Acts 11:1-18 / John 10:1-10
Every moment in history has a few significant turning points that steered it in a specific direction and a specific time.
One significant moment in Christianity was at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles and that began the mission of the proclamation of the Good News.
But an equally significant turning point in Christianity that took place, although at a less dramatic level, was at the home of the Roman centurion Cornelius when Peter saw the same Spirit descend on the Gentiles.
That was the account that Peter gave in the 1st reading, which was actually initially intended to clarify the criticisms against him.
That clarified and signified that Christianity was not just for the Jews but for the Gentiles as well; in fact it is for the whole world.
But Peter's account was not so much a convincing defense against the criticisms; rather the rest of the apostles together with the Christian community heard the voice of God behind the account of Peter.
And as Jesus said in the gospel, the sheep follow the shepherd because they know his voice; they do not follow a stranger because they do not recognise his voice.
So for the Church to continue moving in the direction of the Holy Spirit, we must be able to hear and recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd.
That can only be possible when each of us are hearing the voice of the Good Shepherd. We will recognize that voice because it is a voice that speaks of peace.
For the Church (as well as for us) to be relevant and significant in the world, we also need to speak with the voice of peace. Because it is the voice of the Good Shepherd.