Tend to God’s sheep

Father Ed Witt, SJ
Fourth Sunday of Easter 
May 11, 2025

When I was a little boy, I used to play a game with my uncle, and sometimes with my father. They would hold a coin in their hand — could be a nickel, could have been a dime, could have been a quarter — my job was to pry it loose out of my uncle’s hand. I could never pry it out as hard as I tried. He eventually said, “Alright, here have the Kennedy half dollar,” or whatever it is. 

I think that’s a good analogy for what the Gospel says about us. We are in God’s hands. We are in the Father’s hands. We are in Jesus’ hands. We are in the hands of the Spirit, and nothing can pry it loose from him. As Paul reminds us, “neither death, or persecution, nor the devil, nor heights, nor depths, or any principality or power. The love of God has a grip on us and holds us tightly and firmly. 

The people in the first reading accepted the preaching of Barnabas and Paul. They were very popular. Then all of a sudden, the town turned on them, attacked them, persecuted them, and told them to get out of town. And what was their response? They were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit because they had a sense that they were in the grip of God — of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 

The second reading talks about survivors. Those who survive the Roman persecutions. Now they are in heaven, and they have nothing to fear. They will not lack shelter, food or drink, the sun will not touch them — the sun symbolizing pagan Gods. They will no longer be subject to idolatry, but they have triumphed. They hold the palms of triumph in their hands. And they were able to hold those palms in their hand because they realized that God holds them in his hand. The Father holds each and everyone of us. 

Allstate Insurance says, “You’re in good hands with Allstate.” Forget it.  You’re in good hands with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and we are very blessed to be in their grip.