UNDAILY Episode 114
“Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them. Therefore, Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.
JOHN 10, 1-10 (NIV)
Today's Gospel reading presents the allegory of the Good Shepherd, who opens the gate to life for us. Jesus begins his teachings with a strong rebuke towards the Pharisees and, timelessly, to modern clergy of various denominations, with these words: "Listen carefully to what I am about to say, for it holds great significance. Anyone who enters the sheepfold by any way other than the gate is a thief and a robber." The Messiah warns against false prophets and teachers who try to mislead their "flocks." Just as thieves and bandits attempt to enter by "another way," so do false teachers try to replace Jesus with other "gates" – ideologies, materialism, or false spirituality.