In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.
1. Let us open our hearts to receive God’s Word
“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. (Jn 10, 1-10)
i. 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.
It makes all the difference:
one entering by the gate
the place where the shepherd lays down on the floor to protect the sheep at night
the place from where he leads them out for life-giving pastures;
and one who jumps in from hidden places
to conceal his wicked intentions
to use the other for his personal gain.
Reflect:
What does this image tell you about God’s intentions?
ii. 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.
There’s a kind of love
that looks deep within you
and fills you with life flowing your depths:
the Risen Lord present in you
courage, determination, sense of direction.
Reflect:
How do you recognize the presence of the Risen Lord in your life?
iii. 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.
There are words and actions
that try to steal our inner peace
to destroy our enthusiasm
that leave no room for initiative and creativity.
Jesus come as the gate, a passage, the way
a style of perceiving, deciding, acting,
presence that liberates our freedom,
truth that enhances life.
Reflect:
How do you distinguish between that which drains away life and that which enhances it?
3. Our Father
Thanks to Fr Jimmy Bonnici for this reflection