A GATE, A SHEEPFOLD AND THE SHEPHERD
Listening the Spirit
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."
Listening the Word: 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."
Reflection
Mission is a community (the flock) that listens the voice of the Shepherd (Jesus) and recognize it as the true call, because He is calling each person by his name.
Mission is a community that discerns (sees clearly the robber and the thief and doesn’t follow them), sure that only the Shepherd opens the gate and knows the names of his sheep.
Mission is made by a community that accompany people, sure that Jesus is the One accompanying the community.
Mission is a concrete desire of reaching out all humanity, sure that Jesus is the One leading the community in this reaching out movement.
Mission is the time to go back together to the sheepfold to rest, sure that is Jesus that protects the sheepfold and guards it.
Even today the key word is: MISSION!
The sheepfold marks a comfort zone: the place where the sheep can rest and relax. We can call it with the name we prefer: the sheepfold can be our house, our room, our group of friends… Jesus is the Shepherd and the gate! He is a guardian that protect and bless this safe time inside the sheepfold. He is the gate to make the comfort zone a safe space for us.
But at the same time He is the One that pushes forward, leads our outreaching. The Shepherd knows His sheep: the more He leads them outside the more their health is going to be better! A health that has to be understood in terms of true life: staying with Jesus on the way, making ourselves companions of the others is the best medicine to strengthen our faith! The questions and the doubts of the others can become a possibility to communicate our deep journey together with our communities: The Shepherd considers this outreaching an important step to do. It is the MISSION that gives sense to our lives!
It is the responsibility that we accepts that makes us growing in our life.
Let’s go out from the comfort zone! God is our Shepherd: we know how to recognize Him because He is the One calling us: “Let’s go!”
