The Good Shepherd is the one who knows his flock and the one who will lay down his life for them. In the section of the Gospel of John we hear proclaimed today, we hear that Jesus is indeed not only the Good Shepherd but also the gate through which the sheep enter His Kingdom. His alone is the authentic voice. He alone is the authentic path. He alone sacrificed Himself for the sake of the flock. Jesus is our way, our truth and our life.
We live in a world of many voices today, voices that we often listen to in spite of what Jesus tells us. We are a people formed in and strengthened by His word in its totality, a word of truth that is demanding and challenging. Still, we often listen to those who tell us what we want to hear instead of Jesus who tells us what we need to hear. Today, Jesus, the Good Shepherd and the Sheep Gate, invites us to listen once again to his authentic voice, the voice of truth and life. His is a voice of love and forgiveness, mercy and compassion, healing and peace. His is the most authentic way of life in this world.
So, as we listen to His voice, we seek, as disciples, to lead others to hear that voice. As we live the Gospel and follow the example of Jesus, we invite others to come and find the joy we find in being His disciples. We give hope and light to the world around us. We are the sheep of His flock. He is and always will be our gate and our Shepherd. He knows and loves His flock. May we grown in our love for Him and each other with loving acts of kindness, the gift of our prayers and the model of our discipleship. Let us be good shepherds as well.