I am the gate of the sheepfold

Fourth Sunday of Easter Year A - 3rd May 2020 - "Good Shepherd Sunday"

Before we turn our attention to this coming Sunday's gospel, have a look at the "pages" tabs above. I've put a couple of new ones there today, to celebrate the beginning of Our Lady's month of May. There's The Rosary - A Letter from Pope Francis and an invitation to May Magnificat - A Day with Mary.

Gospel John 10: 1–10

Jesus said: 'I tell you most solemnly, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold through the gate, but gets in some other way is a thief and a brigand. The one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the flock; the gatekeeper lets him in, the sheep hear his voice, one by one he calls his own sheep and leads them out. When he has brought out his flock, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow because they know his voice. They never follow a stranger but run away from him: they do not recognise the voice of strangers'. Jesus told them this parable but they failed to understand what he meant by telling it to them.

So Jesus spoke to them again: 'I tell you most solemnly, I am the gate of the sheepfold. All others who have come are thieves and brigands; but the sheep took no notice of them. I am the gate. Anyone who enters through me will be safe: they will go freely in and out and be sure of finding pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it to the full'.

Reflection - from St Beuno's Outreach 

Today, I come to spend some quality time with the Lord; I settle down. What are the issues which keep coming to my mind today? Gently but  firmly, I put them aside. They will wait.

Slowly and deliberately, I read the text. It may be familiar, but there may be a phrase which strikes me anew. I stay with it and ponder.

The gatekeeper protects what is most valuable to him: his sheep. Whom or what do I consider to be most valuable to me?

Do I, like the Pharisees, adhere rigidly to rules and regulations to keep out those I consider to be brigands and thieves?

Or do I simply trust the Lord to look after my treasures and myself, as the shepherd looks after his flock?

I take  me to listen to his voice speaking to me through his words. What do I hear him say to me? How do I feel?

I may come to realise that in the past I have been lured by other voices which I did not recognise, yet still followed. I tell the Lord about this. I also tell him how I want to respond to his voice today.

In time, with gratitude for any insights I’ve received, I close with Glory be...