ALIAS OVES HABEO || “I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd.” (Jn 10:16)

ALIAS OVES HABEO

Screenshot from Philippine Star Facebook Page

“I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd.” (Jn 10:16) Jesus mentioned in the Johannine Gospel that there are other sheep which he must lead. These sheep do not belong to the flock on whom these words were addressed. According to some biblical commentaries, these pertains to other group of ‘Apostolic Christians’ who does not go along for some unknown reason with the Johannine community. The beloved disciple tries to convey among his audience that no one has the monopoly of Christ, the Good Shepherd. 

He is the Good Shepherd that searches for the lost (cf. Mt 18:12-14; Lk 15:3-7) and prayed for all the Father has given him (Jn 17:6-26) that all of us may become one like his oneness with the Father. When John told the Lord that they prevent someone who cast away demons in his name simply because this person does not belong to their circle; Jesus responded by telling them that who ever does not go against them is for them. (cf. Lk 9:49-50) 

These words of our Lord must be our guiding voice which sets the tune towards ecumenical dialogue and to promote unity among believers. The Holy Mother, the Church recognized this call for ecumenism as urgent; “Everywhere large numbers have felt the impulse of this grace, and among our separated brethren also there increases from day to day the movement, fostered by the grace of the Holy Spirit, for the restoration of unity among all Christians.” Unitatis Redintegration, no. 1

The call for ecumenical dialogue was further deepened by St. Pope John Paul II in his encyclical letter Ut unum Sint which I suggest to our hardcore Catholic brethren to read. A beautiful letter that calls for reconciliation as we see our similarities. Although he pointed out certain differences such us in our ecclesiology but nonetheless, the Good Pope has no intention to debate these matters with non-Roman Catholic readers. His aim is to start a dialogue!

Why am I writing this piece of literature because, I have seen posts from my social media accounts about a methodist pastor who was found putting ashes on people’s forehead in the streets of Metro Manila. Many netizens who profess to be Catholic made fun of this pastor and even gave their insensitive to almost offensive comments. What is more surprisingly sad is that these comments were made on Ash Wednesday when Catholics are supposedly welcoming the season of lent with prayer and penance. Not to offend those who claim to be ‘faith defenders’ in that post but can I ask them a question? Is the act of putting ashes by a methodist pastor an evil one? Is it worthy of mockery or less to be condemned as illicit because it is “copied” from us? When we bring this to Jesus in prayer we will surely hear the words that he said to John in Luke 9:49-50. 

I am Catholic too, but with utmost admiration to our brothers and sisters who belongs to the “other fold” of Jesus our Lord, the Good Shepherd. The time of extra ecclesiam nulla salus (outside the church there us no salvation) is long over and gone. If we limit God and his saving act within what we understand as right and proper, then we made him less than a God to a mere subject of our imperfect mind. God is God and he saves everyone who is worthy, and he made worthy to be saved. This must challenge us to become more of a faithful Christian and not a fundamentalist one. A Christian who prays the same prayer of Jesus, “May they be one!”