Day 24 – The good shepherd

John 10:1-21

“Truly, truly, I tell you, one who doesn’t enter the sheep fold by the gate, but climbs up some other way, is a thief and a robber. But the one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. Whenever he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but will flee from them; for they don’t know the stranger’s voice.” Jesus told them this parable, but they didn’t understand what he was telling them.

So Jesus said again, “Truly, truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. I am the gate. If anyone enters in through me, they will be saved, and will go in and go out and will find pasture. The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came so that they may have life, and may have it beyond all expectations.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. Someone who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who doesn’t own the sheep, sees the wolf coming, leaves the sheep, and flees away. The wolf snatches the sheep and scatters them. The hired hand flees because they are a hired hand and they don’t care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me; just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep which are not of this fold. I must bring them too, and they will hear my voice. They will become one flock with one shepherd. This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life, so I may receive it again. No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down by myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to receive it again. I received this command from my Father.”

A division arose again among the Jews because of these words. Many of them said, “He has a demon and is insane! Why do you listen to him?” Others said, “These are not the sayings of someone possessed by a demon. A demon can’t open the eyes of the blind, can they?”

For reflection

What does it mean to you that Jesus is the gate, and the good shepherd?