Monday of the Fourth Week of Easter, May 12, 2025

Gospel

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

In this Gospel, I found it interesting that Jesus repeats Himself, in a different way. I’ve grown used to the scribes and Pharisees not understanding or perhaps not even wanting to understand His parables. Yet here, Jesus takes the time to repeat, clarify and explain what He means. That tells me this message must be especially important.

This line stood out to me, “A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” Before this, He says, “Whoever enters through me will be saved,” showing that He is the way to salvation. But what stood out to me is how He’s not only speaking to those who are already listening. After all He is telling this parable to the scribes and Pharisees. He offers this invitation to the “thieves and robbers”, those who have wandered, sinned, or followed the wrong voices. And He offers them a way, through Him, where they can repent and find new life.

Jesus is the gate but not just for some, He is the gate for all, “Whoever enters through me will be saved.” He came to save sinners. No matter who we are or where we’ve been, He invites us in with open arms. Jesus says, “The shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out". Like a good shepherd He knows each of us by name and is calling out to us. But do we recognize His voice?

This passage reminds me How loving and merciful Jesus is. He longs for a relationship with us because He loves us and wants us to hear Him. But in order to hear and recognize His voice we have to foster our relationship with Him. His mercy is available to anyone who hears His voice and enters through the gate. And in Him, we don’t just find safety we find life, and life in abundance.