Acts 11:1-18; Psalm 42; John 10:1-10
Peter is questioned about his admitting Gentiles into the new community and he gives an explanation of the Spirit’s working, “step by step”. The psalm’s “thirsting for the Lord” could well be a thirst for the Spirit, because the whole church, then and now, is waiting from power from on high. Then Jesus concludes this portion of the good shepherd speech by announcing: “I come that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
Too many of us in the past had a tit-for-tat image of God: we do this and God does that. Jesus overthrows that image. God is a God of abundance, abondanza! God’s is an exuberant, lavish love and grace. Pray often today: “Give me only your love and your grace – in abundance! That is enough for me.”
Give all of us your life in abundance, you who wants to lavish on us all that you are! Give the abundance of your Spirit so that, filled with the Spirit, we may extend your love to all we meet.