GOOD SHEPHERD

In the Gospel of John (10:1-10), Jesus uses two metaphors for Himself. He said, “I am the Good Shepherd and I am the Gate!” He uses these two images to reveal His true identity. The I am sayings in the gospel of John point to the name of God revealed to Moses in the burning bush. Jesus uses the name of God for Himself because He speaks and acts in the very person of the one true God. He is the perfect manifestation of the invisible God. He is the Good Shepherd because He will lay down His life for His sheep. He said that there is no greater love than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. He fulfilled that on the Cross, His supreme  ct of self-giving. He is the Good Shepherd because He does all things good. He makes the blind see, the deaf hear, the lame walk, the mute speak, the lepers cleansed and the dead raised to life. He restores goodness in all creation. He fulfills the work of new creation. He creates new heavens and new earth. The image of the shepherd and sheep is very familiar to the Jews. David was a shepherd before he became a king. All kings of Israel were called shepherds. The sheep are vulnerable and defenseless against the wolves and other wild animals. The sheep point to all of us because we think that we are in control and self-sufficient. We are not in control. We are vulnerable. God alone is in charge and in control. The image of the shepherd and the sheep points to our need of a shepherd, grace, Savior and  God. It is about intimacy, relationship, friendship and covenant. This is the initiative of Jesus. He already found us. In Him, we are completely loved by God. By His wounds we are healed. By His blood we are saved. Jesus said, “I am the gate!” He did not say I am a gate. He is the only gate but open to all. His love is inclusive and He is the Savior of all humanity. He provides access and security. In fact, in Jesus we have full access to God. He is the bridge between God and man. God can admit to the kingdom anyone whom He chooses. He is the Good Shepherd who leads us to green pasture and nothing shall we want. He calls His sheep by name because our names are carved on the palm of His hands. He walks ahead of the sheep to ensure that the path is safe. We are all called to be good shepherds to one another committed to the way of Jesus. Every single baptized person has a vocation: to work for the building up of the community. We should avoid the supermarket mentality where the Church is there to provide me with religious and spiritual goods as I need them. We are called to imitate the total self-giving love of the Good Shepherd. He gave all and loved to the end. When all are giving, all will be receiving in abundance