Understanding the Word

By Dianne Bergant, C.S.A.

When Peter declares that God made Jesus both Lord and Christ, the people  are cut to the heart with remorse. They realize that they put to death the Holy  One, God’s anointed. The openness with which they receive Peter’s words of testimony and accusation shows that all of the Jewish people were not hard–hearted,  as some have suggested. Peter then exhorts them to repent and be baptized.  The promise of which Peter speaks is probably a reference to the promise of the  Spirit that was initially made to the ancestors of the people in Peter’s audience.  The promise of the Spirit is now made to them. 

The author of First Peter claims that when we suffer precisely for having done  what is good, we have the example of Christ to follow. Afflicted though innocent,  he did not resort to vengeance. The description of the innocent suffering of Christ  recalls a passage from one of the Suffering Servant Songs of the prophet Isaiah  (53:4–7). This passage also contains the image of the shepherd. It is employed  here to indicate that Jesus is the shepherd and his disciples are the sheep.  Although at times they wander away from him, they will be safe and will prosper  only if they follow his lead. 

In the Gospel, Jesus uses figures of speech to make his points. Characterizing himself as a shepherd, he contrasts himself with those who try to steal into the  sheepfold. He seeks to guide, guard, and nurture the sheep; strangers want to  snatch the sheep. The true shepherd will be recognized by both the gatekeeper and the sheep. Then, using the technical phrase “I am”, he characterizes himself  as the gate. Those who go through Jesus will be safe within the pen. As both shepherd and gate, Jesus shows concern for the welfare of the sheep. He insists that  he has come so that they may have life and have it more abundantly. 

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