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.
We are called to follow Jesus, the Good Shepherd. He leads us through the gate which he himself is. He himself is the truth but he is also the way. Life is a journey on which we need guidance. There isn't simply a correct side of the gate where we can stay. There is an entering into Jesus for salvation. There is a going out with him to find pasture. When gates other than him are proposed we don't fall for it. We know that there is only one gate we pass through to salvation. Other shepherds try to lead the sheep astray. They are thieves and robbers. They promise salvation in other names. This is why we must know the voice of our shepherd.
When he has driven out all his own,
he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him,
because they recognize his voice.
If we don't know his voice we quickly wind up like the lost sheep, wandering and scared. The good news is that Jesus speaks to us constantly so that we can learn his voice just as real sheep learn the voice of their shepherds by gradual exposure. When we do stray Jesus leaves the ninety-nine to come and look for us.
He comes in to us through his Paschal Mystery. He leads us to pastures through the Paschal remedies he gives us. He leads us through his cross and resurrection. Only led by him can we find this pasture. And only in this pasture with the Good Shepherd do we find safety.
He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross,
so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness.
By his wounds you have been healed.
For you had gone astray like sheep,
but you have now returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.
When we hear his voice clearly we can do our part for our fellow sheep. We can be bold and venture out when he calls us to do so.
Then Peter stood up with the Eleven,
raised his voice, and proclaimed:
"Let the whole house of Israel know for certain
that God has made both Lord and Christ,
this Jesus whom you crucified."
This is accepted by the crowd, they are cut to the heart, because it is not spoken in condemnation, but to let them know of the love of the Shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep. Peter invites them to enter through the gate and join the sheep in the sheepfold.
The Good Shepherd wants to enable all of us to say with sincerity: "The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want."
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