I CAME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE!

IV SUNDAY OF EASTER: Jn 10:1-10

In John 10, Jesus presents himself both as the Good Shepherd and as the gate of the sheepfold. Before the people, he said: “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep”, and he repeated it once again: “I am the gate.” (Jn 10:7-9), meaning that we must pass through him and in him we can find life and salvation: “Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture” (Jn 10:9). He is the only mediator, or as he said in another occasion: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (Jn 14:6). He is the only Saviour, and only in him we can find life. If we decide to pass through other gate - and there are so many gates - then we will find ourselves out of place.

As a shepherd, Jesus came to put his life at the service of his people, laying it down for all us. “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (Jn 10:10).

Jesus Christ and his Gospel are at the service of life, making it possible for us to have it to the full. Many people are afraid of entrusting themselves to Jesus, assuming that they will loose their freedom and will be denied their pleasure and their joy. Jesus came to set us free, enabling us to live in love and find joy in peace and in harmony, brought by this shared love. True love is only possible when we walk in the footsteps of Jesus or when we allow ourselves to be guided by this good shepherd to the refreshing waters of life.

In the Catholic Church, this Sunday is the Vocation Sunday, or it is a Sunday to reflect on God’s call to each one of us - a call to the service of life. Like the Good Shepherd, we are called to put ourselves at the service of the community. Every leadership, be it political or religious, must be exercised in an attitude of humility and service, in which the leader must be ready to suffer so that the people may see a greater good.

Let us pray to the Lord that he may fill all our leaders with the Spirit of Jesus Christ and may grant us many and good leaders, mainly people ready to answer his call to the service of the Gospel.