John 10:1-10
My Dear Friends, The Fourth Sunday of Easter is often called “Good Shepherd Sunday”. Today’s Gospel has a different theme. It speaks of Jesus as the “gate.” This is much more difficult to grasp at first glance than the Good Shepherd. Yet, as always with the Gospel, there is a beautiful message inviting us into the Pascual Mystery of Christ’s death and resurrection.
At the time of Jesus, each night all the sheep were put into a protective area called the sheepfold. There was only one entrance, the gate. This way in was both a protection from thieves at night and a daytime passage to the bountiful pastures. The gate played a critical role in security. Likewise, it offered the passage to the fertile fields for nourishment during the day.
Jesus said, “I came that they may have life and have it more abundantly.” (Jn 10:10) The image of the “gate” helps us to understand the gift of this abundant life more clearly. The “gate” offers security at night and access to the life-sustaining and life-enriching pastures during the day. The “gate” connects to our daily experiences. When we are faithful in our allegiance to Jesus, he gives us the security that eases the burden of life’s ever-present challenges. Likewise, he opens the path to the nourishment that sustains us in the daily tedium that is the human venture.
The message of the full life is repeated over and over in the Gospel of John. In the loving encounter with Jesus, we not only have life in abundance, we have the highest quality of life, eternal life.
. John uses the “I AM” statements in the fourth Gospel to invite us into the mystery of God. The Evangelist is revealing, in the person of Jesus, the source of eternal life to sinners. In the resurrection, Jesus is the “gate” that opens to eternal life. He is the life-source in the “vine,” the “life” and the “resurrection.” He is the “gate” and the “way” for sinners searching in the darkness and unpredictability of life. He is the “shepherd” guiding us in our confusion and bewilderment. He is the “bread” that nourishes along the way.
In In this season of Easter, we are invited to enter in the “gate” of life in the face of our daily hassles and insecurities. We are the people of the Alleluia. The victory has been won. We attain the victory through “gate” that is Jesus, the Risen Lord. He will lead us to embrace life and live it to the full with the Alleluia ringing in our hearts.
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