GOSPEL POWER |APRIL 26, 2021

MONDAY | 4th Week of Easter | Gospel: Jn 10: 1-10

Jesus said, “Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

REFLECTION

The episode in chapter 9 about the Sabbath-cure of the  man born blind provides the background to Jesus’ selfidentification as both the Good Shepherd and the gate to  the sheepfold in chapter 10. He contrasts himself with the religious  authorities who, unwilling to turn to the light and accept the truth,  exploit their power by subjecting the healed blind man to verbal  abuse and physical violence before expelling him from the synagogue.  As the Good Shepherd, Jesus seeks out this “lost sheep” and leads  him into the faith-community. Since Jesus, who came to serve and  not to be served, is the gate through which all shepherds must pass  to get into the sheepfold, we are given to understand that servantleadership is the only mode of leadership envisioned by the Gospel.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, raise among us servant-leaders whose hearts are attuned to  yours, who are our one and only Good Shepherd. Amen.