Fourth Sunday of Easter
Readings for the 4th Sunday of Easter

First Published: Sunday, May 07, 2006

Verdict

Reflection:

Perhaps one of the last things expected as a topic on Good Shepherd weekend might be the final verdict handed down this week for Zacarias Moussaoui, the only person convicted in relation to the attack on the United States of September 11, 2001. There are a lot of sentiments that rise to the surface when 9/11 is mentioned in this country. They range from rage and racial hatred at one end of the spectrum to sorrow and compassion for the families of the victims at the other. There are many people who wanted the death penalty to be imposed on Moussaoui. They felt that somehow the taking of his life would bring closure to the victims of what the world recognizes as a heinous crime. In the end, however, it has been our Just response to that national tragedy has brought the image of the Christian faith, as it is practiced in our country, to its lowest point in its history.

When we think about what our faith calls us to, love our enemies, respect human life at all its stages, above all forgiveness, we know in our hearts that our countries response has been a poor reflection of those standards. We hear in Holy Scripture Peter calling out to the Sanhedrin, reminding then that it is only by following Christ that salvation can be attained. It is only through Him that eternal life shines on us. How can we reject what he stood for and receive that blessing? We speak from the darkness within when we call for death.

We here Peter again in his letter and we hear this short but powerful statement;

Beloved, we are Gods children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

If Jesus, the man, had been setting in the jury box during this trial he could probably have answered yes when the jury was asked if they could hand down a death penalty. He would have thought he has already condemned himself to eternal death through his actions he would have, with deepest sorrow, done his best insure those with whom he served came to understand that where there is life there is hope for salvation and that he (the defendant) might yet find the error in his actions and embrace the light.

We come to the Good Shepherd who cares for all his flock and even says to us; I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, Does he, Moussaoui, not belong to another fold? Does not the Lord call him to follow as well?

We are not perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect. We cannot have a pure heart, as our Savior does. We can only know Him through what he left us; His Body and Blood, his Word, and the Holy Spirit. Whatever our feelings about justice for this person or even this group must be viewed in the light of what God calls us to be. While we know it is wrong to hate, hated can creep into our consciousness an it will corrupt us, promise.

We must recognize that those feelings of Just retribution are not what the Lord would have us feel. He is the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for All His Sheep. He calls to us, his sheep, to become shepherds as well, and how can we do that if we nurture the hatred that comes for the evil one? We pick it up, this hatred; we look at it and know it for what it is. We turn away from it and find the Holy Spirit that turns it to great sorrow for the ones who are lost. Then the Lord, who is compassion personified, can lead us to the highest ground to stand with him who gave himself for the whole world. Pax