The Gospel reading for tomorrow is John 10:1-10. Jesus explains that He is the gate to the Kingdom of Heaven. I love this reading because I can be like the Pharisees at times - not opening my mind to the most direct lessons Jesus wants to teach me.
In the reading, Jesus explains to them the metaphor of the sheep going through the gate to reach salvation, but they do not understand. So, He explains it again, saying, "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."
I picture Jesus pulling out poster board and markers and sketching out what he is trying to say, with arrows and labels, a little bit frustrated. Those Pharisees were a little slow on the update. And so can I be.
Jesus' messages are simple. We complicate them. The whole of the message of the Gospel can be summed up with today's reading and Matthew 22: 37-39, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
Can you imagine what the world would be like if people internalized and acted according to these two passages? Almost too sad to contemplate.
So it's simple. All the theology. All the councils over the millenia. All of the beautiful and well-intentioned work of creating the Cathechism. The countless heartfelt sermons by priests and preachers who devote their lives to God. And it's really rather simple. Just so often we don't follow what we have been taught.
Our job then: to realize how straightforward it is to walk through the gate. Not easy, but straightforward. Let's try not to be as thick-headed as the Pharisees.
Peace be with you.
- The Older Brother
