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 he 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,
they 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:
“He walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice.”
It is our hope that others may recognize the voice of Jesus in the compassion, love and forgiveness that we show to our family, friends, and all whom we encounter.
“I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”
Jesus’ promise of an “abundant” life is not a guarantee of wealth, power or position.
Neither does he promise that our lives will be free of difficulties or even tragedy.
Jesus promises that if we “follow him” and live by his example to love one another, turn the other cheek, give looking for nothing in return, forgive those who hurt us, and care for our less fortunate sisters and brothers, then we will experience an abundance of peace and fulfillment in this life.
But, everything that Jesus encourages us to do is contradictory to what is considered to be sensible by human standards.
Our human nature balks at forgiving and turning the other cheek to those who offend us. We tend to give looking for something in return. The world tells us, help those who are really trying; be sure “they” are not taking advantage of you.
The mission of My Brother’s Keeper is to: “Bring the Love and Hope of Jesus Christ to those we serve.” We tell our volunteers, “If you feel you’re being taking advantage of that is cause to rejoice! The one who would take advantage of your goodness is the one who needs the love and hope of Christ the most. That person is the “lost sheep” that Christ has entrusted to your care.”
When we “recognize his voice” and are able to follow the example of our Good Shepherd, he assures us of an “abundant life,” a life filled with peace of heart and mind. And, he will lead us to the gate of the sheepfold; the gate of Heaven, in the life to come.
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.” Colossians 3:12