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

By nature, sheep feel most secure when in a flock. But, drawn by the promise of sweeter grass or the inviting sound of a bubbling brook, they often stray into dangerous circumstances.

A good shepherd does not abandon or punish his sheep when they wander. He searches for them and carries them back to safe pasture.

Jesus is our “Good Shepherd.”

He watches over us during good times and follows us closely when we stray. Jesus never abandons us; His love and care of us is not conditioned by our behavior.

Jesus is our Shepherd, and He came “so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”

We are called to be both sheep and shepherd.

Like sheep, we should follow the ways of God as they have been taught to us by Jesus. As shepherds we should guide others to a “more abundant life” through the example of our loving care and service.

“Try to live the example set by Christ so others may be inspired to do the same.” Unknown