Fourth Monday of Eastertide – Acts 11:1-18; John 10:1-10

An appeal to reason can be made, admiration can be aroused, emotions provoked, anger can be incited, discord sown, action spurred on, attention attracted. . . Such a speech doesn’t require the Gospel, baptism or sacraments. Faith, hope and love are not needed.

There is also speech the Holy Spirit brings. When the speaker doesn’t preach of himself, and he doesn’t speak for himself. When he doesn’t separate people into good and bad, clean and unclean. When he is ready not only to preach, but also to give his life for what he preaches.

For what he preaches? Yes. Even more so for those to whom he preaches. They will listen to such a shepherd. And they will follow him.