I am the door of the sheep

Fourth Sunday of Easter Yr A

Collect

Almighty ever-living God, lead us to a share in the joys of heaven, so that the humble flock may reach where the brave Shepherd has gone before. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Reading
Acts 2:14a, 36-41

God has made Jesus both Lord and God.

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven,
   raised his voice, and proclaimed:
“Let the whole house of Israel know for certain
   that God has made both Lord and Christ,
   this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart,
   and they asked Peter and the other apostles,
“What are we to do, my brothers?”
Peter said to them,
   “Repent and be baptized, every one of you,
   in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins;
   and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
For the promise is made to you and to your children
   and to all those far off,
   whomever the Lord our God will call.”
He testified with many other arguments, and was exhorting them,
   “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”
Those who accepted his message were baptized,
   and about three thousand persons were added that day.

The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 23: 1-3a, 3b4, 5, 6

R. :

℟. (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
  or:
℟. Alleluia.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
   In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
beside restful waters he leads me;
   he refreshes my soul.

℟. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
  or:
℟. Alleluia.

He guides me in right paths
   for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
   I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
With your rod and your staff
   that give me courage.

℟. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
  or:
℟. Alleluia.

You spread the table before me
   in the sight of my foes;
you anoint my head with oil;
   my cup overflows.

℟. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
  or:
℟. Alleluia.

Only goodness and kindness follow me
   all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
   for years to come.

℟. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
  or:
℟. Alleluia.

Second Reading
1 Pt 2:20b-25

You have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

A reading from the first Letter of Saint Peter

Beloved:
If you are patient when you suffer for doing what is good,
   this is a grace before God.
For to this you have been called,
   because Christ also suffered for you,
   leaving you an example that you should follow in his footsteps.
He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.

When he was insulted, he returned no insult;
   when he suffered, he did not threaten;
   instead, he handed himself over to the one who judges justly.
He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross,
   so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness.
By his wounds you have been healed.
For you had gone astray like sheep,
   but you have now returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

The word of the Lord.

Acclamation before the Gospel
Jn 10:14

℟. Alleluia, alleluia.

I am the good shepherd, says the Lord;
I know my sheep, and mine know me.

℟. Alleluia, alleluia.

Jn 10:1-10

I am the gate for the sheep.

✠ A reading from the holy Gospel according to John

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.”

At the end of the Gospel, the Deacon, or the Priest, acclaims:

The Gospel of the Lord.

All reply:

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Reflection

In today’s passage we encounter Jesus teaching (and challenging the Pharisees) through several short parables woven together, as well as through allegorical imagery (a mashal in Hebrew). This discourse is set immediately after Jesus’ attack on the blind leaders of his time, namely the Pharisees.

The image of the sheep, and the figure of the shepherd who cares for them, is certainly not new—neither for us nor for those who were listening to Jesus. Today’s passage can be divided into three parts:
1. Jesus distinguishes between the true shepherd and the brigand; 
2. Jesus gives the characteristics of the true shepherd; 
3. Jesus explains the image of the door to the disciples who did not understand.

In the first part, we find Jesus comparing the true shepherd with the one who comes to steal. How can this be recognised? How do we know who is genuine? How do we identify the thief? Jesus gives a very simple answer: “he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber” (John 10:1). This is what we must look at: whether our shepherd enters by the door or avoids it.

In the second part, Jesus gives us beautiful details about the true shepherd:

– “he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out” (Jn 10:3);
– his voice is so familiar that “the sheep hear his voice” and recognise it (see Jn 10:3–4);
– he does not leave the sheep inside the fold, but “goes before them” as he leads them out (Jn 10:4).

In the third and final part, Jesus himself explains the parable to the disciples after they failed to understand it. He identifies himself as the door. Through him we find where to graze. Through him we have life, and have it abundantly.

Prayer

Lord, I am one of your sheep.

Help me to distinguish one shepherd from another. Help me to recognise the one who enters through the door and the one who avoids it. Forgive me when I have followed other shepherds. Forgive me when I have chosen them instead of you.

Help me to become familiar with your voice, so that, when you call me by name, I may recognise your voice and follow you … for only in you is the fullness of joy … only in you is salvation. Amen.

 

Read Past Sunday Readings