May 04, 2020 (Monday of the 4th Week of Easter)
The gate
Dear friends in Christ, the door/gate to the house, plays very important roles, when it opens to someone, it means the person is welcomed to the home, if it slams short on someone, it means the person is not welcomed. Just as in homes, so also with towns and cities and nations. The onus is on the guest to prove himself worthy of acceptance. What if someone decides to get in through other ways apart from the door?
The gospel passage of today(John 10:11-18) is a continuation of the celebration of the Good Shepherd which began yesterday. Jesus declared to his disciples, “I tell you solemnly, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold through the gate, but gets in some other way, is a thief and a brigand.” Jesus must be using the example of the community sheepfold. This is a practice whereby, in a cooperative manner, shepherds bring their flock together at the close of the grazing day, into a common fold, which is watched over by either a paid gatekeeper, or done in turns by the shepherds. By the morning time, the shepherds return to the fold to lead their sheep to pasture. The animals know the sound of their shepherd and do not follow strangers, is great sign of the relationship and bonding between the shepherd and his flock. In yesterday’s passage, Jesus described himself as the shepherd, whose voice the sheep are familiar with. He steps it up now, and he declares again and again, “I am the good Shepherd: the good shepherd is one who lays down his life fro his sheep.” Those who abandon the sheep for wolves and thieves are just hirelings. Jesus says, “I know my sheep and my sheep know me.” Do you know him, do you belong to him. For this sheep, he lays down his life to take it up again. The sacrifice of the shepherd for the sheep comes from love. That is what Jesus demands of his disciples as well. That calls us to reflect on the words of Gamaliel in Acts 5:35ff “Men of Israel, take care what you do with these men. For before these days Theudas arose, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men about four hundred, joined him; but he was slain and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. After him Judas the Galilean arose in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him; he also perished and all who followed him were scattered.” He therefore advised that the Apostles be left alone and if their enterprise is not of God, it will crumble.
We have come in, through the gate of the sheepfold, we are following the Good Shepherd—the one who leads his flock to green pasture, to water and to the place of rest. We must however follow this shepherd faithfully. In all you have to do during the course of this new week, put God first. Do not follow the way of the world. Everything will pass away and we will have to give an account of our lives to God. Be brave, be a good sheep, in the flock of the good shepherd.
Let us pray: Lord help us by your grace to follow your call daily. Amen. May the Almighty God bless you, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.