Gospel Reflection For The 22nd day of April in the year of Our Lord, 2024
Gospel
John 10:1-10
1 Amen, amen I say to you: He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up another way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4 And when he hath let out his own sheep, he goeth before them: and the sheep follow him, because they know his voice. 5 But a stranger they follow not, but fly from him, because they know not the voice of strangers.
6 This proverb Jesus spoke to them. But they understood not what he spoke to them. 7 Jesus therefore said to them again: Amen, amen I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All others, as many as have come, are thieves and robbers: and the sheep heard them not. 9 I am the door. By me, if any man enter in, he shall be saved: and he shall go in, and go out, and shall find pastures. 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I am come that they may have life, and may have it more abundantly.
It is ironic that so many in our time claim to believe in God, and even in Jesus, but not in “organized religion.” One has to wonder if such people have ever read the Bible in context. Jesus said repeatedly that He was the shepherd and that His sheep had been scattered, chased away from the flock by predators or led astray by error. In today’s Gospel, He is also the “gate.” One enters the gate through the sacraments of His Church. Our Lord said to Saint Peter before He ascended to Heaven, “feed my sheep.” That is why the pope carries a crosier, the staff of a shepherd.
To Saint Peter, the Great Shepherd gave authority for the pope, and through him all bishops and priests, to care for His flock. He gave the ability to speak and teach in His stead, to forgive sins, to heal and to feed His sheep through the Eucharist. He warned that others would continue to attack His flock, coming in not through the gate. Many false teachers and preachers, from Martin Luther to Karl Marx and so many more have come as thieves and robbers. Far too many have been led astray and lost. Just like our Lord, the shepherds of His Church would lay down their lives to save even one, and many martyrs have literally done just that. The Catholic Church has never failed in her God-given mission. But, too many sheep still go astray, refusing to listen to the Shepherd’s voice.
When we are Baptized, we become part of the Body of Christ. In Confirmation we are filled with the Spirit. And in the Eucharist, we receive that life that Jesus promised. Only if we remain with Him and in Him can we have life abundantly. Separation from God is death of the soul. Jesus prayed that we may all be one, just as He and the Father are One. We must be one flock, unified in heart and mind, following the voice of the Shepherd and being fed by Him. There must be no division among Christians. Let us pray that all Christians will return to the One, Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church and for the conversion of non-Christians.
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Gospel passages are taken from the Douay Rheims Bible.