Monday of the Fourth Week of Easter
Gates are wonderful things. As kids, we can probably remember swinging on gates, until an adult came along and spoiled all the fun. Gates are not play things. Jesus certainly understood the essential role of gates. The gatekeeper was responsible to close the gate securely to keep various flocks of livestock safe inside the walled enclosure during the night and likewise to keep dangerous marauders outside. In the morning when the gatekeeper opened the gate, the livestock was free to roam but now they needed a different kind of protection. This happened in an amazing way. Within the noise of it all, the intermingled flocks were able to separate themselves and find and follow their own shepherd, whose voice and call was different from any other.
As amazing as this may sound, today’s Gospel takes the image of protecting one’s flock to an entirely new level. Jesus isn’t content with calling himself the Good Shepherd simply leading his flock over the hills in beautiful sunshine. He jars our sense of reality by declaring to us, “I am the gate.” This is not a romantic role of the shepherd. When a primitive enclosure of stones lacked a permanent gate, the shepherd, in this case, Jesus, chose to lie down, closing the gap with his own body. Can anything be more “down to earth?” Jesus tells us that He is willing to absorb any and all attacks and attackers meant to harm us. Can we live with that hope?
Reflection by Fr. Daniel Petsche, OSB
Posted in Article for Easter, Daily Reflections