Rejection and acceptance are dwelt upon in today's Readings. Rejection occurs when Paul and Barnabas get to Antioch in Pisidia on Paul's First Missionary Journey. Paul preached with great success in the synagogue of the large Jewish community there. Initially, the Jews were interested, but, jealous of the huge crowds attracted by Paul's preaching, they became hostile. This forced Paul to turn to the pagans, a response advocated by Jesus who had said, "I have made you a light for the nations so that my salvation may reach the ends of the earth." Paul had tried to fulfil his obligation to preach to the Jews, but they chose to reject him even to the extent of "expelling them from their territory." So Paul and Barnabas left, with the symbolic biblical gesture of shaking the dust from their feet, a gesture they were to use only twice more, once in Greece and lastly in Rome. This rejection was counter-balanced by the pagans who were grateful to be the happy recipients of Paul's message introducing them to the Lord.

The Gospel passage today tells of acceptance: Jesus, the Good Shepherd, has accepted the sheep who listen to His voice. They are recognised as his, and "will never be lost." This image of the Good Shepherd caring for His sheep for all eternity is extended to the relationship with his Father.