Without boundaries

Let us admit from the start that for these last 2,000 years of Church history, maintenance in our way of doing things had priority over mission. But today's readings provoke in us a radically different attitude. The "turning to the pagans" of Paul and Barnabas; "the huge number of people from every nation, race, tribe and language" seen by John as standing in front of God's throne; and finally, Jesus presenting himself as the good shepherd for all "who listen to my voice", are all clear indications of God's firm and universal will to save mankind irrespective of race and colour, tribe or nation.

God's saving power is presented in today's readings as having planetary dimensions, as being without boundaries. And this may be disturbing for us. Surely it is in sharp contrast with the exclusive way in which for ages we envisaged God and His offer of salvation.

The imagery of the 'shepherd' is practically absent in our culture today. But in Jesus' context it was a powerful image that Jesus was using to bring home a big truth about ourselves and our caring God. The title of 'shepherd' was attributed to the kings in the history of Israel.

Unfortunately, this imagery of the shepherd was often seen as corresponding to a sort of herd instinct in our communities. But what Jesus is saying is something radically different. Jesus many a time was moved with pity for the crowds for they were like sheep without a shepherd. The shepherd is there to lead, to provide security and protection, to provide orientation in times of disorientation.

Ours are times of disorientation. And for our orientation, there are two main features in today's Gospel that need to be highlighted: that Jesus knows his sheep and that they will never be lost and no one will ever steal them from him. That was the fear of the good shepherd. Rather than fearing the enemy, the good shepherd feared for his sheep, for their safety.

We also, as believers and disciples of Jesus, experience what may be threatening our peace of heart and our sense of direction in life. We are to some extent engulfed by a climate of fear. But the sheep that belong to him listen to his voice. It reminds us what Jesus said to Pilate while he was being interrogated when he said that everyone who belongs to the truth "listens to my voice".

Belonging to the truth is quite an intriguing concept, because normally we speak of believing or accepting the truth, not of belonging to it. But Jesus's words can provide assurance in our hearts, as long as we 'belong' and 'listen', two things with which we seem to have not little difficulties today. It seems to be one major contradiction that characterises our fragmented culture that while we long to belong because we really need it, it is also something we dread. Disconnection follows, in spite of the fact that ours is a society seemingly doing its utmost to connect people.

Then there is the issue of listening: listening to what? To whom? Ours is a pluralistic age where we are made to believe that free market should govern religion, values, beliefs, and the truth. Where conversation seems impossible, we need to listen first, before we learn to speak again.

There is a feeling of being lost where identity is concerned. There is also the sensation of meaninglessness and solitude where our existence is concerned. The remedy Jesus offers is not a doctrinal truth, but the truth of belonging and listening, of being guided so that in turn we ourselves may be signs of orientation for the world we live in.