I think that at some point, we all have pondered what it is from which the Lord has saved us. What does this Salvation, that we speak of so often, mean? How does it affect us in our current lives? When we talk about salvation, we are discussing a reality that is not easy to understand because it is tied to our destiny, and our destiny is fundamentally linked to the reason why we were created. God created us to share His love and His life with us: in fact, the Book of Genesis tells us that when God created man, He 'breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.' This breath of God within us means that God has given us His very life. Therefore, the meaning of life is singular: we were created by God and the reason for our existence is to be with Him; only there do we find the peace of heart that comes from feeling at home. Thus, the relationship between man and God is not a luxury, something to be casually pursued, but a necessity for those who wish to live fully human lives: without this relationship with God, man ultimately becomes his own worst enemy and that of others, and in the end, destroys himself.
It is in this context that we must understand today's first reading: the early Christians understood that what matters in this life is what lasts forever, what only God can provide. This does not mean that our relationship with God is only valuable for gaining entry to heaven, but also valuable for understanding this life, to make good choices here, to make those choices that do not harm others or ourselves, choices that bring us peace of heart even here and now. 'There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.' Peter was very clear in his words: he said that in Jesus, the crucified who rose from the dead, we find salvation, that is, the path that leads us to God, the path that takes us back to the destiny we lost through our sin. Without Jesus, there is only loss; without Him, no matter what we have or own in this life, our life here remains empty and ultimately, we lose everything if we remain without Him.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus reveals His identity: '...just as the Father knows me and I know the Father;' first and foremost, Jesus is one with the Father, He is God from God as we say in the Creed; 'Therefore the Father loves me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it up again... this is the command I have received from my Father'; this means that in Jesus alone we find salvation, that is, the path that returns us to the ideal for which we were created, the path that leads us to our sole destiny of being in the presence of God forever. So, Jesus is God one with the Father and the Holy Spirit, who became man so that He might suffer and die, but above all, so that He might rise from the dead and thus conquer all evil that has existed and will ever exist, and ultimately lead those who believe in Him to their sole destiny.
Jesus became man to be the Shepherd of the flock that had been scattered, ours that sin had so damaged: 'I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.' Unfortunately, we humans, foolish as we are, chase after mirages, hired shepherds who care for their own bellies and not for the sheep: today the Lord is opening our eyes. We ask ourselves: do I believe that my sole saviour is Jesus, that in Him alone I can find the meaning of my life, with Him alone I can live a meaningful life? In my life, am I following the good shepherd or am I following hired shepherds who care nothing for me, only for themselves? I pray, Lord, today on this day of vocations, bless your Church with many holy shepherds who continue to remind us that you alone are our Good Shepherd, to continue to nourish us with you through the Eucharist, to strengthen us with your grace in the other sacraments, and above all to be with us when we reach the threshold of eternal life which only you can provide for us. Amen.
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