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 the shepherd 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.”
As Jesus spoke these words, people understood well the connection between sheep and a shepherd's voice. It was common practice for shepherds to share the task of guarding the sheep by bringing them into one common pen. One shepherd could guard the gate while the others could attend to other matters.
But how could a shepherd identify his sheep from the others when it came time to collect them and lead them out? It was simple, the sheep were imprinted on the voice of their shepherd and his voice alone. He would simply stand at the entrance of the sheepfold call and only his sheep would respond and come out.
The text continues:
Although
Jesus used this figure of speech, the Pharisees 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.” John 10
The text tells us that the Pharisees, who understood the connection between sheep and shepherd's voices, were not understanding the spiritual message Jesus was giving. Pharisees believed that their spiritual well-being, their righteousness before God was a product of their own accomplishment. By diligently applying themselves to the prescripts of the Jewish law, they could make themselves righteous.
But sheep are not made secure by the mere abundance of green pasture and fresh water. Their security comes from the protection provided by their shepherd. It is the shepherd who wards off the predators, the ravaging wolves, the thieves and robbers, and then leads the sheep to green pastures.
In other words, when it comes to our spiritual well-being, we alone are no match for the spiritual forces that come against us. The only one who is able to stand up against the forces of Evil, that inhabit the hidden realms, is Jesus. We cannot save ourselves.
This site is devoted to learning how to "listen" to the Voice of the Lord, the Good Shepherd. In order to accomplish this, three essential conditions are required.
- Choosing, unconditionally, to follow the "Good Shepherd", Jesus Christ.
- Remaining faithfully within, the "True Shepherd's Fold", which is the Church.
- Imprinting on "His Voice" by the devout practice of a true spiritual life.
- No one religion can claim to have a corner on truth.
- Religion is merely a product of man's construction.
- It does not matter what you believe, only that you are a good person.
- Membership in the Church is not required to be a good person.
- Religion is responsible for most of the conflicts in today's world.
- The bible is a man-made book, not historical, technically inaccurate.
- Prayer is talking to yourself. Nothing changes.
- Science and technology have replaced the need for religious answers.
- The world would be a better place without religion.
O God,
who in the font of Baptism
have made new those who believe in you,
keep safe those reborn in Christ,
that, defeating every onslaught of error,
they may faithfully preserve the grace of your
blessing.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of
the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
(Saturday, Morning Prayer)
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