Remain Faithful to the Lord with steadfast Purpose (The Persecution of Stephen)
In those days: Those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to none except Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number that believed turned to the Lord. News of this came to the ears of the Church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad; and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose; for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a large company was added to the Lord. So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul; and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the Church, and taught a large company of people; and in Antioch the disciples were for the first time called Christians.
(Acts 11:19-26)
Psalm 87:1-3, 4-5, 6-7
O praise the Lord, all you nations
Founded by him on the holy mountain, the Lord loves the gates of Sion, more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Of you are told glorious things, you, O city of God!
Rahab and Babylon I will count among those who know me; of Tyre, Philistia, Ethiopia, it is told, There was this one born,
But of Sion it shall be said, Each one was born in her.
He, the Most High, established it.
In his register of peoples the Lord writes,
Here was this one born.
The singers cry out in chorus,
In you, all find their home.
Acclamation: My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; and I know them, and they follow me.
I and the Father are ONE!!!
It was the feast of the Dedication at Jerusalem; it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered round him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are Christ, tell us plainly." Jesus answered them, "l told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one."
(John 10:22-30)
Reflection
It was the feast of light, and Jesus was in the temple premises when the Jews surrounded him and questioned him. They came as judges in front of the Word and not as those who wanted to be guided by it; they came as inquisitors and not as inquirers. The hardness of their hearts and minds did not allow them to listen. Yet, the theme of Christ the Shepherd acquires an eschatological meaning. The reciprocal love between the shepherd and the sheep is the assurance for the final hour: they shall never be lost. We do well to ask and answer these questions: How is it possible to believe in today's world? And how is it possible today to present the proposal of faith?