30 April, 2023 | Fourth Sunday of Easter
Gospel Jn 10:1-10
Jesus said:
"Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate
but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber.
But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice,
as the shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
When he has driven out all his own,
he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him,
because they recognize his voice.
But they will not follow a stranger;
they will run away from him,
because they do not recognize the voice of strangers."
Although Jesus used this figure of speech,
the Pharisees did not realize what he was trying to tell them.
So Jesus said again, "Amen, amen, I say to you,
I am the gate for the sheep.
All who came before me are thieves and robbers,
but the sheep did not listen to them.
I am the gate.
Whoever enters through me will be saved,
and will come in and go out and find pasture.
A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy;
I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly."
Reflection
Christ spoke of himself using two related images. He is the Good Shepherd who guides his flock and is willing to lay down his life for them, and he is also the Sheepfold, the gateway by which his sheep enter eternal life. How can Jesus be both at the same time? Ps 23 speaks explicitly of the Lord as Shepherd who cares for his sheep. The purpose of the gate is not to keep out other sheep. In verse 16, Jesus says, “I have other sheep that are not of this fold, I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice.” The purpose of the gate is to guard against all that threatens the well-being of the sheep, like thieves, bandits and wolves.
Do we recognise the good shepherd's voice over all the other agents?
GRATITUDE
We take the opportunity to thank Sr Meera Albuquerque FSP for the Daily reflections on the Gospel, for the month of April, 2023. They were meaningful, thought-provoking and calls to action.
Thank you, Sr Meera
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