Gospel: Jn 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 he 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, they 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.”
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IN John, the sheepfold represents the gathering of Jesus’ disciples and of later believers. Jesus says that aside from his followers he has “other sheep that do not belong to this fold” (Jn 10:16), which he will also call. This group possibly refers to the Jews not yet belonging to the Johannine community and “outsiders” like the Samaritans and the Gentiles. These are the “dispersed children of God” (Jn 11:52) for whom Jesus will also give his life. When Jesus returns to the glory of the Father, the disciples will preach the Gospel to them and welcome them to their community, the sheepfold of Jesus.
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SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2018,” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
