Today Jesus reminds us in the gospel that “I am the gate for the sheep.”  This is a beautiful image for us to reflect upon in prayer.  It reminds us of how the Good Shepherd will gather his sheep into the sheepfold and then make his bed for the night at the entrance of the sheepfold and serve as the gate for the sheepfold.  As the gate for the sheepfold, Jesus, the Good Shepherd, keeps his beloved flock of sheep from wandering away from the fold in the dark of night and becoming lost sheep.  Jesus, the Good Shepherd, also keeps the creatures of the night from gaining entrance to the fold and threatening the sheep.  This is a beautiful image of the protective love of Jesus for his followers.  Jesus, the Good Shepherd, feeds us by day through his gentle words of guidance and life and through the sacraments that are a living stream of water that flows from his presence in our lives.  By day the Lord feeds us and nourishes us in word and sacrament so that we can grow strong in his loving care.  He leads us out into the pastures of the world and assures that we have an abundant life of goodness, truth, beauty and love.  We are never alone for he watches over us and gently calls us to himself.  The relationship we have with him is one of intimate love as he knows us each by name and calls us gently to himself.  He is always inviting us to place our trust in him, stay close to him and listen to his voice that is calling us to the fullness and abundance of life.  “I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep.”  The relationship that we share with Jesus, the Good Shepherd, is also a share in the very special relationship that Jesus shares with the Father.  Jesus knows us intimately and we are called to grow in an intimate “knowing” of Jesus.  He will provide for all of our needs and his presence in our lives is a blessing presence.  We need to recognize his voice among the many voices of those who call for our attention every day and stay close by him.  Just as Jesus is never alone but the Father is always with him so do we know that we are never alone because we have the comforting presence of the Good Shepherd with us always.

     Even when the night descends upon us and we can’t see the shepherd well he does not leave us alone to fend for ourselves.  In the darkest night, the Good Shepherd is always near, sleeping at the gate and keeping us safe from the wolves and denizens of the night.  In our relationship with Jesus we must be able to discern the difference between the thieves who rob, the wolves who destroy, the false shepherds who want only to steal our life away, and the Good Shepherd who truly cares for each of us as his own and who wants only abundant life for us all.  In the night of suffering, Jesus lays down his life for us, suffers with us and keeps us close by him.  Night will come but we do not have to face the night alone.  When the daylight of a new day dawns, Jesus is always there with us, sleeping at the gate and ready to lead us into a new day of abundant life and joy.

     As disciples of Jesus we have a Good Shepherd that watches over us in love.  We know him by name and we can call upon him any time we are in need.  We can be gentle, loving and kind to one another because he will guard us from the wolves and false shepherds of the world.  In this Easter season, the image of the Good Shepherd reminds us that Jesus never leaves us alone and that he stands at the gateway of every new day.  He is the “shepherd and guardian of your souls” as Peter reminds us today in the second reading.  On this Good Shepherd Sunday, let us thank God for the beautiful way that he has taken care of us, placing us all under the watchful care of the Good Shepherd.