TODAY'S GOSPEL REFLECTION: "THE SHEPHERDING OF CHRIST"

TODAY'S GOSPEL REFLECTION: "THE SHEPHERDING OF CHRIST"

April 30, 2023. Fourth Sunday of Easter

Gospel

Jn 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 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."

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."

Reflection

We can only really rest in the presence of God. Blessed Fourth Sunday of Easter. Our Lord Jesus Christ warned us about the thieves who have one goal, which is to attack us in every way possible. The thief knows how to find the cracks in our lives, which they could use to enter and burglarize the sheep's den. These thieves know how to soften their voices to imitate the shepherd. Truly, this also happens in real life. The devil, our enemy, knows how to confuse us by imitating God's voice and even our voice, to make us believe that an idea is better than the plan laid by God for us. Therefore, it's important to strengthen our prayer life.  When we pray, we learn to use our spiritual ear, and we learn to recognize the true voice coming from God, Who only speaks in clarity and hope. Therefore, when a sheep is faithful it can easily recognize if the voice is coming from The Good Shepherd. Let us keep in our hearts that God's voice is worth knowing. And that Jesus' voice never causes anxiety, confusion, despair, or only causes temporary peace. When we learn to identify the voice of God, that's when we learn how to eliminate the unnecessary voices trying to confuse us. Let's allow The Good Shepherd to embrace us, as we gaze upon His holy face.

Let us reflect on which arm are we being carried. Are we in the arms of God or the enemy? May we have the strength we need to let go of the voices that only confuse us and keeps us from our true vocation. Let us follow the voice of Jesus, especially in darkness, to finally see the light meant for our mission.

In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen+

Reflections by: T.K.R.S

Go to USCCB website for the full readings.