Homily

“You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know— this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law.” Even today, these words resound decisively in our ears. Peter does not accuse someone or some group in particular; he does not accuse only the Jews (these words have sometimes been twisted to support animosity towards Jews). Beginning with himself, the apostle accuses everyone, including the Romans and those who were present in Jerusalem, because not one of them opposed the injustice which was being perpetrated against that just man. All were jointly responsible, whether out of fear, indifference, betrayal, or distraction. And everyone had the same motive: to save himself and his own tranquillity. The only one who didn’t save himself was Jesus; this is why God intervened and snatched him from death. The resurrection is all God’s doing. On the other hand, we are all responsible for the death of the just one; as we are also responsible for the death of so many innocent ones still in our day. This is why it is noted in the book of Acts that upon hearing the Gospel of the resurrection, Peter’s listeners “were cut to the heart.” They understood the enormous difference between the way they had behaved and the passionate intervention of God who freed Jesus from death. Peter himself had already felt his heart torn in his chest when he heard the cock’s crow reminding him of his betrayal. Similarly, the two sad disciples of Emmaus felt “their heart burn” while the stranger who had joined them explained the Scriptures to them. The Gospel touches the heart and “warms” it, but not when we feel we are good, sensitive, or religious; rather when we recognize our distance from God, the only one who is good, and when we realize our need for help in order not to succumb to our weakness.
In a world in which the sense of the God’s greatness has become less common, while the good opinion people have of themselves is more popular, hearing the Gospel helps us to discover our true demeanour. And it is precisely the realization of our own weakness and wickedness which impels us to ask: “What shall we do?” It is not a formal question; rather, it is born from the desire to change our own hearts. Those who listen to Peter do not ask: “What should the others do,” but rather they ask what they can do. The answer is in the Gospel: follow Jesus, the good shepherd. The Gospel speaks of a fold for the sheep. There are those who enter it by devious ways: these insinuate themselves like thieves or bandits in the night of fear and weakness, to take away the hearts and weaken the lives of the disciples. It can be a conversation, a person, a habit or anything else that can snatch the heart of a disciple. However, the one who enters through the door of the sheepfold is the shepherd of the sheep; the “gatekeeper opens the gate for him and the sheep hear his voice.”
In Jesus’ first appearances he found the door of the disciples’ hearts closed by fear and unbelief. Now the door opens and the shepherd enters and calls his sheep one by one. It is the word of the Risen One who called Mary by name while she was crying before the tomb. It is the word that calls Thomas to no longer be incredulous but a believer. It is the word that asks Peter three times: “Simon of John, do you love me?” It is an direct voice that asks for a direct response. It is not an alien voice. It is the voice of the friend. It does not lead to another fold, perhaps more beautiful or comfortable; but rather, it removes all enclosures and every barrier in order to put before our eyes the infinite horizon of love. Paul says: you are free in order to be slaves of one thing only, slaves of love. Jesus leads us towards such love. He walks before us and takes us to that verdant pasture: “I have come that they may have life, and have it in abundance.” The one who follows him will be saved, find pasture, and “will never be hungry ... will never be thirsty” (Jn 6:35).