Gospel: Jn 10:1-10
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber: but he that entereth in by the door, the same is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter opens the door, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his sheep by name and leads them out; and when he has led them all out, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, because they know his voice; but they will not follow the stranger, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers. And he spake this similitude unto them: but they understood not what he spake unto them. Again Jesus: Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep; all who came were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door; whoever enters by me will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
Fruit: Jesus Christ is the good shepherd who knows us, calls us and wants to lead us to heaven.
Guidelines for reflection
The shepherd knows his sheep. He has put a lot of dedication, mornings and nights of fatigue and worries into them. The good shepherd does not think twice when a sheep is lost: he goes in search of it. In the case of Jesus Christ we see that he does it simply out of love. He is truly the good shepherd who gives his life for the sheep and calls us personally by name.
Jesus Christ compares two types of shepherds
First there is the good one, who is Himself, and then there is the hireling who neglects the sheep when the wolf appears. Jesus Christ seems to indicate that these are the Pharisees of his time who deceive the people: “All those who came were thieves and robbers”. We too can have two positions before our sheep. What are they? Let us name them: family, friends, school or work colleagues, people who work with or for us. How are we with them? Like the good shepherd or like the hired hand?
2. The image of the shepherd
Using the image of the shepherd to describe God was common in the Old Testament. The office of shepherd is very self-sacrificing because it is someone who must be attentive to the sheep all the time. This is how God was with his people in the Old Testament: always attentive, attentive to the needs of his people. And so is Christ in our own day: there is the Eucharist, that silent and humble little piece of bread begging for a dialogue with us. He knows our needs, but he wants our hearts to be open to tell him each and every one of them. What better place to place our projects than in the Tabernacle!
3. We must follow the good shepherd, Jesus Christ
Listen to his voice and not to that of the impostors. The problem that many have is not not not finding a pastor, but approaching those who teach a different doctrine. How to recognize the true pastor? The ancient principle “Where Peter is, there is the Church”, helps a lot. Those who are in communion with the Vicar of Jesus Christ, the Pope, are the true pastors and those who always work in communion with the bishops.
Purpose: Pray a mystery of the rosary for the Pope and for the sheep entrusted to our care.
Visit also our monthly online retreat.
You may be interested in: Is the Good Shepherd present in me?
