This coming Sunday is the 4th Sunday of Easter for Year C of the Lectionary Cycle. The gospel is taken from John 10:27-30.  In v.29 it is clear that it is the Father who has given the sheep to Jesus.  This small part of one verse, when reflected upon can be a quite challenging revelation. We are part of Jesus’ flock because of what God has done, not because of anything we have done, (cf. “You did not choose me but I chose you””15:16a). Can we refuse to be God’s gift to Jesus? Jesus is clear that “the Jews” to whom he is speaking do not belong to his sheep. Why not? Clearly they have heard Jesus words – yet they refuse to listen and follow. What is the word they refuse to hear? It simply this: “God has given you to Jesus.”

It is the mission of the church to proclaim over and over again to its people: “You have been chosen by God. You are part of Jesus’ flock. You belong to Jesus. You are a sheep of God.” The hearers can choose to believe or not believe these words. The hearers can choose to follow up on what God has done for them or not.  Based upon those choices, now and in the end of all things Jesus will say (or not say): “I know them and they follow me” (v.27)

Can We Follow? The Father who gives us to Jesus is greater than any other power. There is nothing that can snatch us away from Jesus or from the Father. “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things,  nor future things, nor powers,  nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39). If salvation (i.e., belonging to Jesus’ sheep, being part of the family, and thus being given eternal life by Jesus) is dependent upon God and Jesus; then it is not dependent upon my faith or my love or my knowledge – all of which can be somewhat unstable. Salvation is rooted in the Word of God which proclaims: “You have been chosen by God. You are part of Jesus’ flock. You belong to Jesus. You are a sheep of God.” The hearers can choose to believe or not believe these words. The hearers can choose to follow up on what God has done for them or not. “For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother” (Matthew 12:50).  The implication of “being given” and “hearing” is to discern and do the will of the God who has already given you to Jesus.

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