Discipleship, which means to learn, in particular from Jesus, would have us relating in communion, being nonviolent loving persons, and expressing creative healing power. All three qualities were Jesus’ most consistent and significant witness. In Sunday’s Gospel Jesus is again giving witness to these ingredients and encouraging disciples to do their best to exhibit them. Peter is most especially being challenged to live them out. When Jesus tells Peter in the Gospel to tend his sheep, He’s telling every disciple of the communal relationships of loving care he wants us create in this world.
Disciples can give themselves to communal relationships of loving care and take creative actions freely and continuously. We can support doing so formally in spiritual gatherings, private associations, and even government agencies – so long as people are tending Jesus’ sheep. Such groups need attention and resources from Christians. Whether the community being formed was created as a soup kitchen or a food pantry, a health program such as autism awareness month or a race for the cure, whether it is food stamps, Medicare, or Social Security communities that tend to people, especially in their time of need – all deserve support and improvement. To refer to a community of care as an entitlement program, is a direct attempt to dehumanize the people in need. It attempts to diminish the loving care all people, Christians especially, are called to extend to others. The phrase, entitlement program reflects a cruel perspective about the world rather than a creative action for the world.
Cutting resources that help us tend to our brothers and sisters in Christ is not a sign of discipleship. It is not a sign that we are learning from Jesus. It is especially non-Christ-like when at the same time we help increase resources to organizations that harm our human family. Examples include organizations such as houses of worship, private associations, and government agencies that harm people through sexism, racism, poverty, and other violence. Such groups do not reflect Jesus’ call to tend his sheep. Whether the organization is R.O.T.C. on campus, Planned Parenthood, the NRA, the Bank of America, or the military, organizations that harm people do not deserve the support of people who call themselves Christians.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, I vow this day to tend your sheep.
Questions: Why are resources being cut to communities attempting to tend to our human family and being maintained or increased to organizations that harm us?
April 14, 2013 Gospel John 21:1-19 Third Sunday of Easter