Jesus is the Gate or Door into Eternal Life

I am the "Gate" or "Door" into Eternal Life

Welcome again to our celebration of the Easter mystery! As we look forward to protecting and reopening our stores, schools and places of worship, let us open our hearts to the word of God today and every day.

The word of God takes us back to the outpouring of the Spirit upon the disciples, to St. Peter courageously and boldly proclaiming Jesus is risen and gloriously alive; Jesus is the Messiah, the foundation and fulfillment of the hopes of Ancient Israel.

The letter of Peter encourages a persecuted community to see Jesus as their model. The mystery of suffering, accepted in faith, can bring healing for others. The suffering of Jesus reestablished our relationship with God: God in us and we in God!

The Gospel portrays Jesus as the Good Shepherd, the gate into eternal life. It gives us several images: “I am” the bread; the vine; the way, the truth and the life; the resurrection; the good shepherd. These “I am” sayings allude to the divinity of Jesus.

I particularly like Jesus as the gate or door. An open door welcomes friends, fresh air and light. A door can shelter.  Architects spend a great deal of effort on an entry or facade to make a statement. Doors can speak for us, as well. A door may indicate status. The courthouse door may lead to justice.  The college door: learning and discovery. Doors may be transitions from fear to safety, from isolation to community.

The church door – or these days an online portal – welcomes us to God’s presence.

Jesus is the gate, the “door” through which we pass from this transitory earthly life into a transfigured heavenly life. On our journey, Jesus is our gateway into life in all its fullness.

The Easter season is all about life and hope. In Jesus’s death on Good Friday is hidden his glorious resurrection at Easter. Yes, Jesus Christ lives and because he lives, we live. The Easter season challenges us to “reset our lives” each day.

How? A best seller titled Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...and Maybe the World offers some advice. The author, William McRaven, cites little things, life-lessons, that aren't little at all. Here are a few:

--make your bed every morning, because when you accomplish one thing early, you'll be motivated to achieve more. Start with a task done.
--to change the world, find someone to help you, to mentor you from goals to achievement.
--always measure people by the size of their heart, by the will to do well.
--remember life isn't fair, and keep going. Without challenges, you'll never realize your potential.
--In dark moments, you have to be your very best—calm and composed and strategic—to bring all your skills of mind and strength of character to bear.

And never underestimate the power of hope. The Easter season is about hope in God. At every stage in our earthly pilgrimage, through death into eternal life, God is present. May our hope always guide us to look for the good in people; to discover what can be done.

Yes, Jesus Christ is risen. And because he is gloriously alive, we live.

Doing the Will of God

Good Shepherd Sculpture

In the Gospel according to John, we have the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd.

Now, I don’t identify life with sheep and shepherds. You and I live in a tech information age.

But as more than one author has written, life is not based only on information about God, but also on experiences of God.  Jesus’ audience could easily relate to shepherds and sheep. Ancient shepherds had to work hard.  They had to deal with wild animals and outlaws and rustlers.

The shepherds’ dedication inspired biblical writers to speak about God as a good shepherd.  Thus the psalmist sang:  “The Lord is my shepherd.”  Jesus cares for the weak and helpless, heals the sick, seeks out the lost sheep.  Yes, he does even more: He lays down his life for his sheep.

We may be wondering where are the “good shepherds” today?

I would like to zero in on the Letter of John. The author says God is our Father and we are sons and daughters and as such, called to do the “will of God” in our everyday life.

I believe we do the “will of God” by doing the best we can as we go about our everyday activities, by being faithful to our relationships and faithful to our responsibilities.

If you’re working to pay the bills, but making time to be with your children when they need you, you’re doing the will of God.

If you are overwhelmed by the care of a dying relative, but you try your best to make a loving home, blessed are you.  You’re doing the will of God.

If you happily give your time to work at a soup kitchen, shop for a neighbor who’s housebound, befriend the unpopular, blessed are you.

If you refuse to take shortcuts when it comes to doing what is right, if you refuse to compromise your integrity and ethics, you’re doing the will of God.

If you try to understand things and manage to find a way to make things work for the good; if you’re feeling discouraged paying the price for loving the unlovable and forgiving the undeserving; if you struggle to discover what God asks of you in all things; if you try to seek God’s presence in every facet of your life and every decision you make; if your constant prayer is not “give me” but “help me,” blessed are you. You’re doing the will of God.

If you manage to heal wounds and build bridges, if you can see the good in everyone and seek the good for everyone, blessed are you.

If you refuse to compromise basic principles to simply “get along” blessed are you. You’re doing the will of God.

Jesus calls us to eternal life and asks us to seek the will of God in our daily lives.  May God grace us to do so. And then we will indeed see God face to face.