John 10:1-10

Acts 11:1-18

Psalm 42:2-3; 43:3, 4

John 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.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, you are the Gatekeeper and have entrusted the role of Good Shepherd to your Son, Jesus Christ. Throw open the gates of eternal life to me and help me listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd who calls me by name and leads me to the pastures of eternal life.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Shepherd: In the Gospel, Jesus alludes to himself as the shepherd of the sheep. He is our leader and enters first through the gate, the gate of heaven and eternal life. He criticizes the religious leaders of Israel, who, in his day, were acting like thieves and robbers and not as authentic shepherds. They were taking advantage of their positions for personal gain. Instead of laying down their lives for the flock, for their sheep, they fell into the temptations that this world offers, the temptations of power, possessions, and pleasure. By contrast, Jesus resisted those temptations and sought only to love his sheep and will their good, the good of salvation, by giving his own life for them. He truly is the Good Shepherd who leads his sheep to good pasture – the verdant fields of eternal life – and the water of the Spirit. 

2. Lamb: When we read about shepherds, sheep, and sheepgates in the Gospel of John, we cannot forget that Jesus was earlier identified by John the Baptist as the Lamb of God. Both in the Gospel of John and the Book of Revelation, this is a key identification of Jesus. Jesus is both “Good Shepherd” and “Lamb of God,” just as he is both “faithful and merciful high priest” and “sacrificial victim.” He is mysteriously both the one who offers and the one who is offered. The offering of a lamb harkens back to the Book of Genesis, when Abraham was called to offer his beloved son Isaac as a sacrifice. Abraham trusted that God would provide a lamb, and, in his only-begotten and beloved Son, God did! While the lambs offered in the Temple were ineffective at taking away our sins, Jesus’ one self-offering was effective. As his cousin John proclaimed, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world!” We hear these same words at mass when the Eucharist is held up and the priest proclaims, “Behold the Lamb of God; behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.”

3. Sheepgate: Jesus is not only the Good Shepherd who leads and protects his sheep and lambs; he is not only the Lamb of God sacrificed on the Cross for our sins; he is also the sheepgate. Whoever enters through Jesus the Sheepgate will be saved. Jesus is the way that leads to eternal life. He has opened the gates of heaven, which were locked due to the sin of our first parents. He himself is the gate through whom we enter into divine life. We enter in the Spirit, through the Son, and to the Father. We need to be on guard about false gates, those gates set up by thieves and robbers. The false gates include those set up by many of the Pharisees, who indulged in self-righteousness, loved the praise of men, and were confident in their own works. The true gate, by contrast, is exemplified in Jesus and is one of humility, service, sacrifice, mercy, peace, justice, purity, grace, virtue, and charity.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, Good Shepherd, call me by name today. Protect me from evil and lead me to the refreshing water of eternal life. Help me to imitate you as the Good Shepherd and care for those entrusted to me.

Living the Word of God: How do I treat others? Do I use them for my own gain like a thief and a robber? Or am I focused on them as persons loved by God? Is there anyone I need to help hear the voice of the Good Shepherd? How can I help them today?