The Gospel
John 10:1-10
Jesus said, “Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
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I love this imagery of Christ the Shepherd who gathers the sheep, and of Christ who is the door to eternal life. It is a wonderful and comforting word that Christ speaks to us. It is a powerful reminder of our need for Jesus and the life he gives to us.
This imagery is at times tainted by us who are the sheep. I say that because all too often Christians speak in condemnation of others and make the message of Jesus as the source and giver of life to be a weapon of judgment against those whom we believe to be outside the sheepfold. We who are Christians do well to note that it is the shepherd, not the sheep, who number the flock, who feed them, who protect them, who guard their very lives. We would do well not to attempt to guide other sheep, but rather simply to follow the shepherd, and by our faithfulness to the shepherd, trust that he will wisely chose whom shall be numbered by him to be among his flock.
Sadly we fail to do so, for we are indeed sheep! This is not a flattering description of us, and yet how often do we earn it. The sheep know the voice of the shepherd. And yet I am reminded again of a story I heard long ago that when sheep are sheared they cry, for in looking upon one another, they believe that they are no longer among a familiar flock, but have been transplanted and placed among strangers. Only they are no strangers. It is the same flock, only with a different appearance.
Father Tim+
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