By Their Works They Shall Be Known

1 May

The Jews gathered around him and said to him,
“How long are you going to keep us in suspense?
If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
Jesus answered them, “I told you and you do not believe.
The works I do in my Father’s name testify to me.
But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep.”  (Jn 10:24-26)

Sunday, the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, we were presented with the Gospel of the Good Shepherd.  Yesterday, we were presented with another Gospel version of the Good Shepherd.  Today, the image of Jesus, the Good Shepherd continues.

Jesus was confronted by people who should be His sheep.  However, they had strayed from the flock long ago.

They wanted a definitive answer from Him:  Was He the Christ?

His answer?

He had already told them.

Not only had He already told them, but His works had already testified on His behalf that He was the Christ.

Works.

They are so very important.

They are what presents us to the people in our world.

Jesus spoke of love and mercy, of peace and kindness, of understanding and forgiveness.

He not only spoke about those realities, He ushered them in with great signs and wonders, including restoring sight to the blind, sound to the deaf, mobility to the crippled, and life to the dead.

He not only told His people that God loved them.  He proved God’s love by doing for His people.

We say that we believe in love and mercy, in peace and kindness, in understanding and forgiveness.

Are our actions consistent with our words?

FAITH ACTION:  Are your actions consistent with that of someone who claims the name of Christ?  If you have not been the Christian that Jesus calls you to be, form a plan to do better today.  Be that vessel of love, mercy, understanding or forgiveness to someone whom you may have been neglecting.