Jesus, the Shepherd, is the Gate to Abundant Life
(Jn 10:1-10)
As we turn the pages of the Hebrew Scriptures (the Old Testament), we see that God has an uncontested predilection for shepherds: Abel, Abraham, Jacob, Moses, David, Prophet Amos, and the list can go on. John Bosco, the founder of my religious order also was a shepherd boy! You see, God seems to have a predilection for the shepherds, because shepherds make very dedicated leaders. When it comes to taking care of their flock – their people – they can even put themselves at risk.
Today is the 4th Sunday of Easter. Every year, this Sunday is celebrated as the Good Shepherd Sunday and Vocations Sunday. Each year, for the gospel reading, we hear one part of John 10. This year, being Year A, we listen to the first part of that chapter. We reflect on the ‘pastoral’ love of God made visible in Jesus, as we also pray for vocations to priesthood; priests are the ‘pastors’ of the church.
In the gospel text of today, Jesus makes two more of his “I am” statements: “I am the Gate” (Jn 10:9), and “I am the good shepherd” (Jn 10:11). I would like to pick up three themes from the section of John 10 that we heard read today, and reflect together with you.
1. I am the Gate
“I am the gate of sheepfold” (Jn 10:7); “I am the gate” (Jn 10:9).
This seems a strange analogy. Let us look at it in some detail to get a deeper meaning of what perhaps Jesus means. It is customary among pastors at the end of the day to gather their sheep in the pen – as we see among several pastoralist communities like the Maasai of the African continent even today. The pen itself is often an open-air circular area enclosed by thorny branches. Usually it is a very dirty and smelly place. It would have just one narrow entrance, which would be barricaded by wooden logs. When the shepherds bring the sheep to the pen at the end of the day, they would let the sheep in as they count them to make sure all of them are in; they would then return the logs at the ‘gate’; and one or two of them after their own ‘dinner’ would sleep just outside the pen at the gate blocking the way. If wild animals like the hyenas or even thieves would enter the pen, they would have to trample the shepherds at the gate to get in. This is a standard way of guarding the sheep at night.
Jesus borrows this image from the pastoralist setting, and takes it a step further. He says, “I am the Gate”. He does not say, I am a shepherd who sleeps at the gate to guard the sheep – that would be just normal; but he says, “I am the gate.” This is extra-ordinary. He is not just the guardian of his flock. He is the Way to the community.
Jesus is making this assertion in the 10th chapter of the Gospel of John. By this time his community of disciples is slowly growing. And perhaps some people in the community are there without having a personal encounter with Jesus. Or perhaps there are others who want to be part of the community (the fold) but do not know how. So Jesus’ statement is simple and clear: “I am the gate”, as if to say: “No one can become part of the fold unless they have had a personal encounter with me.”
2. Fullness of Life
“That they may have life and have it to the full” (Jn 10:10).
What is the fruit of that personal encounter with Jesus? Is it just being part of a community? Being part of any community (any fold) is not difficult. There could be a fold around even a thief; but “the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (Jn 10:10a). On the other hand, the experience of God in Jesus brings life: “I have come so that they may have life and have it to the full” (Jn 10:10b).
There is always abundance in the presence of Jesus:
- At the wedding at Cana(Jn 2:1-11) where Jesus turned water into wine, before Jesus was recognised, there was emptiness: six empty water jars! When Jesus’ hour had come, the jars were filled up to the brim – making up a total of 180 gallons of best quality wine (that is, in US gallons, 681 litters; and in Imperial gallons, 818 litres).
- When Jesus fed the multitude (Jn 6:1-71), before the recognition of the power of Jesus, there was hunger and there was a small boy with just five barley loaves and two fish. After Jesus had fed the five thousand, there were 12 large baskets full of left over.
What is this fullness of life that Jesus is talking about? Is it just life in heaven? Yes, it is included. But one who has had an experience of God in Jesus has also the secret to inner vitality – serenity, peace and new energy. Therefore, the Easter season once again invites us to focus on Jesus, so that we might have life and have it in full.
Jesus would summarise again these two themes that we have just explored above in his statement: “I am the Way, Truth and Life” (Jn 14:6).
3. Do I feel drawn towards God or driven by Him?
“He goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow because they know his voice” (Jn 10:4).
What is our response to the invitation of God made manifest in Jesus the Good Shepherd? Do I feel drawn towards him or driven by God. I would like to borrow yet another image from the book Landmarks by Margaret Silf.
A shepherd can either go in front and attract the sheep and lead them on; or he can go at the back of the herd and shove them by beating them and pushing them. He can either draw the sheep or drive them. Now, do you feel drawn towards God or driven by him?
If I feel driven by God, perhaps I would believe that my salvation just depends on obeying some commandments and rules, and that I need to be ‘good’ to deserve the love of God. But today’s gospel text invites us to experience the unconditional love of God, made visible in the Good Shepherd who laid down his life for us – even when we were still sinners (Rom 5:6). John 10:4 says, “When he has brought out all those that are his, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow because they know his voice.” God draws me to Himself by His love. I can decide not to be drawn to Him, not to follow Him. He would wish that I follow Him, but if I decide otherwise, he respects that. It is nice to be drawn towards Him, because this is what my soul is longing for. If I follow Him it is good for me, because this is what will ultimately make me happy, where I will find fullness of life.
May the experience of the love of the God in Jesus become a reality for us, especially during this Eastertide, so that we may have life and life to the full!