22 April, 2024 | Monday of the Fourth Week of Easter

 Acts 11:1-18

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."

Reflections:

: "I have come that they may have life, and have it more abundantly. Jesus' life is flowing. It is like a waterfall coming down from a mountain with a never-ending stream of water. The shepherd makes sure that all the sheep come into the sheepfold. When the shepherd goes to gather his sheep, he "calls" his own sheep by name and leads them out. It was and still is the custom in Palestine to give each sheep a name, such as "long ear" or "white nose". When the shepherd has brought out "his own", he "goes before them" to lead them to pasture. The sheep follow the shepherd because they have heard his voice and are familiar with it. They will not follow a stranger, but will "flee from him". He stands at the door so that no stranger can enter. Only those who belong to his family can enjoy the privilege of inheritance. If we follow Jesus, our Good Shepherd, we will have life and have it in abundance. No robber or wild animal will take us away from him.

Action: 

Try to listen intently, by what name, you hear Jesus calling you.