DAILY DEVOTIONAL
Sunday, May 6, 2018

What is the balance between inner peace and prophetic witness?

“I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture.” – John 10:9

Here is one of those declarations of “I AM” found in the Gospel of John. Christ draws upon the image of the sheepfold, a place of refuge for the flock during the night when the wolves do prowl. I suspect the sheepfold was a wall of gathered stones with an opening for the doorway, sometimes with a gate, other times with but the bodies of the shepherds. As was Christ’s way, He used metaphors well-known in His place and time. (As I think we ought to do in our own place and time.)

This metaphor of Christ’s I believe speaks to the rhythm of spirituality. The Lord provides us places of shelter, free from anxiety, free from fear, safe places one finds in the new Realm of God. But with this provision of shelter is also the doorway into the world where ministry is accomplished, where witness is shred, where we find the nourishment of life experience is to be found. Reaching out beyond the stone walls and the finding of shelter from what is prowling beyond those stone walls, the rhythm of servant spirituality. And both journeys come by way of the Person of Christ. He is our safe refuge and He is our venturing forth.

I find Sabbath is a sheltering place, readying our souls for the venturing forth.

Always in His Service,
Fr. Charitas de la Cruz