The Gate of the Sheepfold

 Gospel : John 10:1-10                                                             30th  April 2023

Jesus said:

‘I tell you most solemnly, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold through the gate, but gets in some other way is a thief and a brigand. The one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the flock; the gatekeeper lets him in, the sheep hear his voice, one by one he calls his own sheep and leads them out. When he has brought out his flock, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow because they know his voice. They never follow a stranger but run away from him: they do not recognise the voice of strangers.’ Jesus told them this parable but they failed to understand what he meant by telling it to them.  So Jesus spoke to them again: 

‘I tell you most solemnly,  I am the gate of the sheepfold. All others who have come are thieves and brigands; but the sheep took no notice of them. I am the gate. Anyone who enters through me will be safe: he will go freely in and out and be sure of finding pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it to the full.’

                                 

        Jesus you  tell us You are The Gate to the sheepfold and we must enter through You. But You  also say, the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the flock. Could it be that Jesus, You are  both the gate and the shepherd?                                                                      And Jesus,  could it also be that the Holy Father  and the Bishops with him are the shepherds who  lead the sheep, the flock, us, through the gate .                                                                                   Again, Jesus, could it also be that You  call us  to, not only go through Jesus ( the gate) , but also be shepherds ourselves,  to the many sheep who  wander the world not knowing in where to find the Truth, where to find Eternal Life, where to find Salvation. 

         Jesus, You say You have  come "that they may have life and have it to the full", that we may have life and have it to the full, finding green pasture and bringing, hopefully, many with us.  

Help us be mindful,  Jesus, on this Good Shepherd Sunday,  that we have to follow You closely, to get to know You well,  to listen attentively to You, knowing that You will lead us through the narrow gate, to be with You and be safe. 

         And to do that we have to be very close to Him, to know Him well, to be intimate with Him.