Monday 4th May 2020
FOURTH week of Easter
Acts 11:1-18, John 10:11-18
During one of my pastoral works
in a parish, I embarked on home to home visitation of those who worshipped in
the parish. I was passing by a particular house when one man kept calling me to
visit him too and pray with his family. The young man who was taking me round
told me not to go because he does not worship in the Catholic Church. I did not
have enough time to think, I entered the house and started conversing with
them. It was during this conversation that I discovered that the man and his
family members were muslims. Nevertheless, I was marvelled at how seriously
they took my presence and how much they have known about the Christian faith.
Their loud shout of 'Amen' during the prayer was also very amazing and they
were happy to be sprinkled with holy water.
Peter would have had such an
experience as we see in the first reading of today. The Jews never mixed with
other nations. Some of the early Christians who were Jews also had that
mentality. They thought that the Christian faith was for them alone and thus,
they were angry with Peter to see him among the gentiles.
We are called to always remember
that we are all children of God. God has no favourite and does not
discriminate. Yesterday we heard Jesus tell us that he is the good shepherd, in
the gospel reading of today, he tells us that he has other sheep which are not
yet in the fold. We are to make effort to bring everyone to the fold of Christ.
All that God created is good and clean, we are the ones who make judgement on
one another. When Jesus commanded the Apostles to go into the world and preach
the gospel in Matt 28:19, he did not intend that only a few people or region
should be evangelised. Let us let go of our biases and prejudices and go out of
our comfort zones to relate with one another freely. We can be very good
friends despite our various backgrounds and religions, just as we are all
children of God. No human person should be discriminated. God help us. Amen
Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie
MSP.
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