John Koza

Dear Friends in Christ,

The gospel reading for today is John 10: 1-10. Jesus gives us the example of a shepherd caring for and leading his sheep. Jesus tells us, “…anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice” (vs. 1-3). 

This was a very visual example for the people of that time. Sheep were kept in pens when not grazing the countryside. These pens were walled off with short walls a few feet tall, high enough that the sheep couldn’t jump over them, but low enough for the shepherd to step over them. 

The gates that Jesus refers to were arches in the wall that the sheep would pass through when it was time to exit the pens. Quite often, at night, the shepherd would sleep with his back against the arch to prevent sheep from exiting. What an intimate image that provides of a shepherd truly caring for his sheep. Later, in verses 7 and 9 Jesus says “I am the gate,” twice. Did Jesus say this twice for clarity?

Read verse 3 again, paying attention to the second half of the verse: “The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice.” Continuing on: “When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice (vs. 4). Once again, Jesus uses a very clear illustration because sheep do come to know their shepherd’s voice and they will not listen to the voice of one other than the shepherd whom they know.

Should we choose to follow our benevolent, loving, shepherd, the Christ, our lives will be richly blessed. “I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture…I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly (vs. 9, 10).

“Show me the place of peace, lead me to the good grass that will nourish me, call me by name so that I, your sheep, hear your voice, and by your speech give me eternal life.” —St. Gregory of Nyssa

In Christ,

—John