Christ, the Door of the Sheepfold

 Reflection on Today's Readings, Monday of 4th Week of Easter, Year B, April 26th, 2021
Texts: Acts 11:1-18; Ps. 42:2-3;43:3.4; John 10:1-10

We are encouraged, today, to learn to pass the right way. Jesus says, "Truly, Truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber; but he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep". The right way is the door. It is thief that avoid the door: he avoid the door because the gatekeeper will not open the door for him. The gatekeeper will not open the gate for him because he is a stranger, not the shepherd; he is not known to the gatekeeper. The sheep will not know him also; they will not trust him.

Whoever wants to pass through the door must have the identity of the shepherd. Hence, Jesus says, “Truly, Truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not heed them." We enter by Jesus when we are certified by Him. This role of shepherding is not to be taken upon oneself, it must be the initiative of God, not man's. This is clear in these words of Jesus: "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you" (John 15:16). Whoever is  not called by God go through the window to make things happen; they become thieves.
We must also be sent so as to come by the door. When we are called, we are instructed and told what the mission is all about. We go in His name when we are sent; without being sent we cannot go with His authority. The calling is a call to be with the master, a call to learn from him and grow into him. When we have been with him, learn from him and grow into him, we have his identity. With his identity and mark on us, we will not be a stranger to the sheep and also not to the gatekeeper; he will open the gate for us.
It is when we have the identity of the shepherd that the sheep we follow us. It is said, "he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens; the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice." Having the identity of the shepherd, we have his mind and able to speak like him, walk like him, look like him, touch like him and care like him.
We are all called in our own different ways, we are to learn from the master. Let us always listen to him speaking to us in his words. Let us also pray for enlightenment that we may understand his words.
Jesus Christ goes further to say, "I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture." In these words, Jesus shows it is not only the shepherd that must go by the door but also the sheep. Salvation is attained through Him. This brings to mind once again His words: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me." Everyone of us, both shepherd and the sheep, must put on the image of Christ to be saved. We are all called to be like Him, to have His identity and to bear witness to our faith in Him.
The apostles and other disciples, in the first reading, were able to spread the faith to the Jews and Gentiles because they lived like Christ, they sought the will of God in whatever they did. God called and instructed Peter to speak to the Gentiles about the good news. He is not just called and instructed alone, he is also sent to them. He says, "And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction." To make Peter fit to preach the good news to the Gentiles, God enlightened him and healed him of bias: "What God has cleansed you must not call common." Being called, taught and sent, he bore fruits for God.

God our Father, help us to be like your Son in thought, words  actions; grant that we may always live by Him. Amen

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke