The big picture of life

A couple were driving home to Connecticut from Florida. For years, the wife had been a bit of a backseat driver. While he was driving, she continually told him to slow down, get out of this passing lane so that the car behind does not keep putting on lights, pay attention to the signs, you’re too close to that car, etc.

Both took turns driving and when she drove, he napped, As she headed up to their bedroom on their arrival home, she commented, “I am so exhausted.”

The husband replied, “Good night, dear. No wonder you are so tired, you drove and then you drove when I drove!”

It is hard not to be the driver all the time, to let others and even God lead and drive. This is the point of our past weeks’ suffering with the coronavirus that we did not have control over — we were not the drivers. God alone was driving, and we had to let Him! When we tried to come up with answers or solutions, we suffered the frustration and inability to shepherd ourselves.

Jesus clearly states in this Gospel, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep……Whoever enters by me will be saved……I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

These were rich images at the time of Jesus, maybe like the wife in the story, which is a rich image for today. We need to listen, try to correct ourselves or try another way of acting, and let Jesus be the way, truth and life! It is not easy in the big picture of life to be out of control. Perhaps the pandemic is more a pandemonium for most of us as we are not in control.

We are in this mid-point of the Easter Season, and weeks into the coronavirus. And still, Jesus tells us to trust alone in Him. He is willing to be the Shepherd and lead us through the gate and into the eternal pasture, if we but follow. The big picture is to let go and let God, but letting Go is not easy!

It is with certitude that Jesus claims the mantle of being the Good Shepherd. He speaks definitively for His Father regarding who gains entrance through the sheep gate. He knows who truly believes and who is just pretending. In the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Peter shows such bravado and passion for Jesus. Peter did not show that on Holy Thursday night. But unlike Judas, Peter trusted in Jesus’ forgiveness. Peter saw the big picture and held on to beg for forgiveness.

It has been stated, “Heroism consists of hanging on one minute longer.” Peter did so, and now is a fiery, spirited preacher on Jesus as the Messiah. Peter reminds all that Christ suffered in silence when insulted, and went humbly to be judged and died for our sins.

Take some time and reflect on what areas of life you need to ask for forgiveness. How can you, with quiet patience, let Jesus lead and you trustingly follow? Can you be more open to the big picture of life and hang on one more minute to living in faith and allowing Jesus to truly be as you prayed in the responsorial psalm, “The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want”?

In the big picture of life, patience, forgiveness, silence and understanding are the pictures we want to draw in our day-to-day living. Maybe we both need to pray and talk about these to each other in order to make this the big picture of life.

This is National Day to Pray for Vocations to the Priesthood and for future Good Shepherds to come forth and lead in the example of Jesus Christ, May the Lord give us young men willing to say “Yes,” to the big picture, of leading us through the gate to eternal life, as they “serve as other Christ’s”!