The Gospel for Wednesday, February 18, 2004
John 10:1-18
‘In all truth I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold through the gate, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a bandit. He 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 all those that are his, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow because they know his voice. They will never follow a stranger, but will run away from him because they do not recognise the voice of strangers.’ Jesus told them this parable but they failed to understand what he was saying to them. So Jesus spoke to them again: In all truth I tell you, I am the gate of the sheepfold. All who have come before me are thieves and bandits, but the sheep took no notice of them. I am the gate. Anyone who enters through me will be safe: such a one will go in and out and will find 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. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. The hired man, since he is not the shepherd and the sheep do not belong to him, abandons the sheep as soon as he sees a wolf coming, and runs away, and then the wolf attacks and scatters the sheep; he runs away because he is only a hired man and has no concern for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for my sheep. And there are other sheep I have that are not of this fold, and I must lead these too. They too will listen to my voice, and there will be only one flock, one shepherd. The Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me; I lay it down of my own free will, and as I have power to lay it down, so I have power to take it up again; and this is the command I have received from my Father. -- The New Jerusalem Bible. 1995, c1985. Doubleday: Garden City, N.Y.
A Study
"... because they know his voice." The new leader of Israel, Jesus, resonates with those of his flock. But the religious elite, the rulers have lost touch. They are not recognized as shepherds, but as exploitive oppressors, looking to glorify themselves and enrich themselves, to live in comfort at the expense of the heavily-taxed poor -- "thieves and robbers."
John tells us that the people didn't understand Jesus' story. So Jesus starts again.
Jesus institutes himself as the guardian and protector of his people, one who would sacrifice himself for them. Unlike those who are around the flock only for their own gain, as hired men were, Jesus stands up to the wolf, to the robbers, to the thieves, as he is doing at that very instant, defying the Pharisees. Not only that, but Jesus knows his sheep.
And not only is Jesus there for the chosen, Israel, but for others, as well. We have seen his brief interaction with the Samaritan woman, and there will be other encounters, including Paul's conversion and ministry to the Gentiles.
Jesus goes on to disclose a brief theology of his sacrifice -- he and the Father know each other, and his loving Father will accept his laying down his life in perfect obedience, so that he can rise from the dead, having paid the ultimate penalty for our sins, for all of us all in the process.
A Reflection
Falling on a live hand-grenade. Giving up one's seat on a lifeboat. Taking the punishment for another. Giving up one's place in line.
Sacrifices all. Some far more noble than others. All selfless. All totally incomparable to Jesus' sacrifice.
Jesus knows each of his sheep, every one for whom he laid down his life. He makes it possible, even, for us to know him, intimately.
Jesus doesn't angrily decry the Pharisees, as some of today's "preachers of the Gospel" decry sinners. He doesn't use a loud voice. He uses pure, cool logic and polite simile to reveal the Pharisees and other temple elite for who and what they are. He offers redemption and love to any who would believe in him, even the Pharisees, even until they demonstrate their physical vision and spiritual blindness.
And now he introduces those around him -- the small band of disciples, the crowd, and the Pharisees -- to his ultimate human fate. But he clothes the revelation in the reason for his ultimate offer: "this is the command I have received from my father." And, "No one takes it from me; I lay it down of my own free will...."
"I am the good shepherd."
5:55:14 AM 
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