John 10:1-10 NRSVue
1“Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. 2The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
7So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who came before me are thieves and bandits, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
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Reflection on John 10:1-10
Inspiration from 2027-04-19 Daily Prayer
There is a beautiful line in today’s gospel: ‘the sheep follow him because they know his voice.’ This kind of trust could only be gained by a shepherd who stays close to their sheep, feeds and protects them. In today’s passage we are invited into a deep relationship with Jesus, the Good Shepherd, to listen for his voice, a voice that brings peace and comfort. From this relationship comes abundant life.
The ‘abundant’ life is an ongoing process of walking together, working together, learning to trust one another – maybe stumbling or making mistakes but always working to live in harmony. As followers of the Good Shepherd, we live so that all may ‘have life, and have it abundantly’. What does the expression ‘abundant life’ conjure up for you? When do you feel most alive, joyful, energised, in tune with the universe and with God?
Further reflection
‘Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.’ Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
So again Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.