The Door

Scripture/Bible:    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; 2 but he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens; the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." 6 This figure Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.  7 So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not heed them. 9 I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. John 10:1-10

Reflection: We see a change of roles in this passage. Jesus, the good shepherd presents himself also as the door through which the Shepherd and sheep must go in and out. 

A shepherd may not live for long and hence never permanent. When one shepherd goes another may take his place and that is what the Catholic Church is all about. Beginning with Peter the Apostle and the other apostles, the chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ, keeps appointing shepherds over his flock.

Though Shepherds may pass on the baton of responsibility to the next generation, the door is always constant and is a permanent fixture.

Christ Jesus is that door through which both the sheep and shepherd must enter in and out. Only those who enter through this door and come out are safe and hence the responsible shepherd makes every attempt to lead people in and out through this door.

The irresponsible shepherd or wolf will lead people through their door to be slaughtered and killed by the many enemies.

Hence, no matter what kind of shepherds we may have, even the types whom St. John Chrysostom claims that their skulls pave the paths of hell, we should never lose sight of the Chief Shepherd and the door.  

Our primary focus should be to listen to the voice of the chief shepherd, Jesus Christ, and the only door by which we must enter; Jesus Christ.

A good shepherd will always lead the flock to look to the Chief Shepherd and listen to his voice and see that his flock is familiar with the door, lest they lose their salvation.

Prayer:  Lord, I believe that in learning to listen to your voice and in being familiar with you, I will be saved from the imposter.

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