Fourth Sunday of Easter
"Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep" (Jn. 10:1-10).
In biblical days, a sheepfold was made of massive rocks to keep the sheep together; there was only one entranceway. However, in John's gospel, Jesus mentions two entries into the sheepfold. One can climb the wall, or enter through the Gate. Interestingly, Jesus' words are not pleasant for those who climb the wall to enter the sheepfold. Jesus identifies them as thieves and robbers. Individuals in this category do not have the sheep's interest in their hearts. This imagery mirrors today's big corporations and marketers, the Walmarts, the Fortune 500 companies, the big governments, etc. Do these corporations care about their workers? Are they like the thief and robber, interested in getting their workers out of quartine regardless of COVID 19 for other reasons than wanting to open their businesses? On the other hand, one can enter the sheepfold by going through the gate. Here, Jesus said, "I AM the Gate." Jesus enters the sheepfold and calls his sheep. They come because they know Jesus' voice. Perhaps this was why David said that the Lord was his Shepherd; He cared for his sheep-like no other. He led his sheep to clean peaceful waters; He provided natural grass and protected His sheep from wolves. This Shepherd had the perfect medical plan for his sheep. Governments and big businesses should study the outline of Psalm 23; The Lord is my Shepherd. Jesus is the Gate we must pass through to "dwell in the house of the Lord forever," and not Walmart or Amozon.com's doors.
Author: Michael P. Howard, M. A.