Who will you follow?

Readings for Monday May 4, 2009

First Reading:  Acts 11:1-18

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalms 42 and 43

Gospel:  John 10:1-10

"So Jesus said again, "Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep.  

All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.  

I am the gate.  Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.  

A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly."  (John 10:7-10)  

In today's gospel we hear from Jesus, the good shepherd, and about the gate to which we are to enter.  Jesus makes it clear that in order to be saved and to get to those eternal pastures, we must go through Him.  There are many things in this world that tell us to follow it or them.  Power, money, greed, lust, even other people can even try to attract our attention away from Christ.  Christ makes it quite clear in this gospel passage that He is the good shepherd that we should be following and in order to have eternal life we must go through Him.  

Many times people will try to make their own way.  I have heard some people say that they will worry about that "church and God stuff" when they are older, but for now they are going to just go out and have fun with life.  The only problem with that is that no one can know how long they are going to live, and it could be to late.  The other problem with that is that if we are not following God then our life here on earth is not complete and as it should be.  God has a wonderful plan for us on earth, and an even better one ahead in heaven if we are just willing to sacrifice the things that we think that we want for the treasures that He has to give.  We cannot make out own way to heaven, we can only go God's way and that way is right through Christ.  

So who will you follow?  The things of this world, or yourself?  Or will you follow Christ; who came down from heaven to give us abundant life?  There is only one way to enter heaven, make sure that you are following the right path.  

Father above, we thank you for the gift of this day.  Thank you for all the joys and blessings that you bring in our life.  Lord, thank you for all the blessings that we have not recognized in our lives and for all you continue to do.  Jesus, you are our Lord and giver of life, help keep us strong and wise so that we may follow you without any hesitation.  Lord you give us more love and mercy than we could ever deserve, we thank you for this.  We ask this all through Christ our Lord.  Amen.