Reflections on Scripture | Monday of the 4th Week of Easter

Join Msgr. Don Fischer as he reads and delivers a short reflection on today’s gospel, followed by 3 1/2 minutes of contemplative music and a closing prayer. Msgr. Don hopes that today’s reflection on the gospel will empower you to carry the Word in your heart throughout the day.

Choose either the video or audio below.

Gospel
John 10:1-10

Jesus said:
"Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate
but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber.
But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice,
as he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
When he has driven out all his own,
he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him,
because they recognize his voice.
But they will not follow a stranger;
they will run away from him,
because they do not recognize the voice of strangers."
Although Jesus used this figure of speech,
they did not realize what he was trying to tell them.

So Jesus said again, "Amen, amen, I say to you,
I am the gate for the sheep.
All who came before me are thieves and robbers,
but the sheep did not listen to them.
I am the gate.
Whoever enters through me will be saved,
and will come in and go out and find pasture.
A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy;
I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly."

Reflection

Jesus uses the role of Shepherd to instill within his disciples an understanding of who they will be once Jesus fills them with the truth. God is the source of all truth. Jesus is filled with God. The way you enter into the Kingdom of God is through an acknowledgment of what is true, what is real, what is unchangeable.

And what we see in this story is that Jesus is also saying that those who have not opened their heart to the truth are thieves and robbers when they try to take care of people. And he is obviously talking about the people of the temple. The Scribes and Pharisees were thieves and robbers keeping people from truth. And God has come in the form of Jesus to change all of that.

Closing Prayer

Father, so many voices speak to us about who you are and what you call us to be. Ground us in your truth. So we hear your truth, we will open our hearts to it, when we hear lies and half truths, we will turn away. Bless us with wisdom to know the difference. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Kyle Cross