Psalm: 23 Epistle: 1 Cor. 10:1-4 Gospel: Jn. 10:7-18 Verse for meditation: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (Jn. 10:11) The Christian church believes in the one Lord and it…
Readings
Old Testament: Num. 11: 23-30
Psalm: 23
Epistle: 1 Cor. 10:1-4
Gospel: Jn. 10:7-18
Verse for meditation:
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (Jn. 10:11)
The Christian church believes in the one Lord and it has the obligation to live in unity with Christ. The word ‘Lord’ is the translation of the divine nouns Jehovah and Adonai. The Septuagint and the Greek New Testaments use the word in Greek as ho kurios. When Jesus is called Lord, it shows the perfectness of Christian faith. Apostle Thomas addressing Jesus as ‘My Lord and My God’ is an example for this (Jn. 20:28). Jehovah is the Lord (Adonai) of the whole universe (Ps.97:5; 114:7). LXX uses the respective pronoun adonai to mean God (Ex. 4:10, 13; 1King 22:6). ‘Do not pronounce the name of Jehovah in vain’ is the Old Testament commandment. Due to the fear of the Jewish people towards God, in places where it is written Jehovah they used to supplement the word with adonai and read it. Therefore, the LXX translation uses the word adon (adonai) to mean kurios (Lord). ‘The son of God is the Lord (kurios) of the Sabbath’ (Matt. 12:2; Mk. 2:28; Lk. 6:5). The New Testament uses the word kurios to mean God and Jesus. The disciples addressed Jesus as kurios (Lord) many times (Matt. 8:25; 16:22; Lk.9:54; Jn. 11:12). God, the ruler of the earth is called the Lord (Matt. 1:23, 5:33; Mk. 5:19; Lk. 1:6; Acts 7:32; 2 Tim. 1:16, 18). Luke uses the word Lord (kurios) to the maximum time in the New Testament (Lk. 17:5, 6; Acts 9:10, 11, 15, 17).The usage of ‘Lord Jesus Christ’ is found in the Acts many times (Acts 4:33, 15:11,16: 31). The idea ‘accept Jesus Christ as the Lord’ and the usage ‘Lord Jesus’ are the basics of Christian creeds. Peter in his first sermon says, “… both Lord and Messiah” (Acts 2:36). At the house of Cornelius Peter introduced Jesus as the Lord of all (Acts 10:36). Believe in Christ in your hearts as Lord (1 Peter 3:14). This was the New Testament teaching. Thus Jesus is the only Lord. “There is one body and one spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Eph. 4:4-6). God is working in everyone as one Lord sharing his spirit to everyone.The truth of Trinity also expounds also this idea. A person enters into the Christian church through baptism to become one body with Jesus Christ (Rom. 6:1-3; Gal. 3:27).
Lord who fills with the same Spirit (Num. 11:23-30)
God shared his spirit during the time of Moses to the 70 people selected from the Israelites (Num. 11:25). A young man complained to Moses as Eldad and Medad prophesying in the camp. Joshua also told Moses to stop them. But the reply of Moses is very important “… ‘Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!’” (Num. 11:29). Let us praise God for his Spirit given for various ministries through the church as it has been promised ‘I will share my Spirit to all people’ (Acts 2:17; Jos. 2:28; Is. 28:2). Jesus also responded to such a situation likewise (Mk. 9:38-50). God gives various ministries. The church of God grows in unity when we are able to imbibe such ministries and find the goodness in such ministries.
Lord who leads as a single people group (1 Cor. 10:1-4)
God led his people giving the same spiritual food and drink to them as a single people group (1cor. 10:3,4). They have taken baptism under the cloud and on the sea and marched forward along with Moses. They have followed the rock that was Christ. They were led by the pillar of cloud and fire (Ex. 40:38, 13:21; Num. 9:16). St. Paul in 1 Cor. 10:1-4 gives this experience as an admonition. Today the Lord is leading the church. The call is given here to stand in unity as a church which is called, following Jesus through one baptism.
One shepherd and One Sheep (Jn. 10:7-18; Ps. 23)
Jesus declared that he is the good shepherd and the door (Jn. 10:9,11). Jesus had a vision ‘one sheep fold and one shepherd’ (Jn. 10:16). The Lord leads us. David has personally acknowledged this ‘the Lord is my shepherd’ (Ps. 23:1). The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep (Jn. 10:11). He knows his sheep (Jn. 10:14). He also knows and leads sheep those do not belong to this sheep fold (Jn. 10:16). As the Book of Revelation says: “… from every nation, tribe, people and language …” (Rev. 7:9). We should receive this vision and revelation. For this purpose God has brought us to the only Lord through one baptism. “Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ …” (1Cor. 8: 6).
Collect:
God of new life, you seek to recreate people with holiness, justice, peace and equality. We thank you for the institution of Baptism through which we could be touched by you and be transformed by you. Grant us grace that we who are baptized in Christ may realize that we are clothed with newness through the merits of Jesus Christ the new Adam who lives and reigns with you and Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
Unity, to be real, must stand the severest strain without breaking. A congregational prayer is means for establishing essential human unity though common worship.
Mahatma Gandhi
Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.
Martin Luther King Jr.
No religion has mandated killing others as a requirement for its sustenance or promotion.
