Gospel: John 10:1-10
Truly, I say to you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber. But the shepherd of the sheep enters by the gate. The keeper opens the gate to him and the sheep hear his voice; he calls each of his sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but rather they will run away from him, because they don’t recognize a stranger’s voice.”Jesus used this comparison, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.So Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, I am the gate of the sheep. All who came were thieves and robbers, and the sheep did not hear them.

I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved; he will go in and out freely and find food.The thief comes to steal and kill and destroy, but I have come that they may have life, life in all its fullness.

Reflections

“I am the gate of the sheep.”Jesus introduces himself as the gate as he develops the theme of the good shepherd.He wants to help his disciples identify whom they should follow and who are the good or bad guys.Jesus is the gate. As such he expects his sheep and the shepherd to enter the sheepfold through him. They pass through him to find rest when coming home and pasture when going out. They are nourished properly in the open and they come home satisfied and are secured by Jesus himself.Jesus considers those who do not pass through him as thieves or robbers. They pose as sheep or shepherds to victimize the hap- less innocent followers of Jesus. They terrorize them and do murderous acts.Christians must be intelligent enough whom to listen to in terms of deepening their faith. They should follow their ordained ministers who listen to the voice of Christ himself and have no intention of enriching themselves through their ministries.The image of the gate is some- how static and fixed, but it symbolizes the stability of Jesus’ protection of his flocks.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2019