Our
gospel passage today makes reference to yesterday’s passage in
which Jesus talks about shepherds and sheep! Today he tells us that the
authentic and genuine shepherds of the sheep enter through the gate and do not
climb in to where the sheep are by illegitimate and unauthorized channels. The
way to be connected with the people of God, in order words, is through Jesus,
who is the gate of the sheep – and
all shepherds like him will enter and minister to the flock only by adhering
closely to him, his teachings, his Church and indeed intimate friendship with
him.
And so, it is easy to
distinguish the good from the bad shepherds; the bad ones are “in it for
themselves and their own glory” – rather than for the life of the sheep and
God’s glory! These others are “thieves and marauders” – they come only to
siphon off the spirit and life of God’s family members for their own power and
glory! But they will not prevail! In the end God will have his way with these
cheaters and hypocrites.
The true and authentic
shepherd – after the Lord’s own heart – is the one who freely distributes the
life of God among all of the needy ones – especially the poor and the lost – so
that in Jesus’ own words “they may have life, and have it in abundance!”
May we not follow bad
shepherds today, may we follow the good ones – and may we ourselves be a good
shepherd to whomever God places in our path to shepherd – after his own heart!
I am
the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my sheep and mine know me.
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