Coffee With God

Reflection: John 10:1-10

A sheepfold in the Palestinian settings of Jesus’ times were enclosures surrounded by stone-walls on which were placed bundles of thorns. Brambles are allowed to grow on it to prevent sheep from exiting and thieves from entering. The enclosure could be in front of a house, built outdoors, or on mountain slopes. A single sheepfold built on a mountain slope could be used by several shepherds together who bring their sheep at night; they would take turns to stay awake and keep watch while others slept. Armed with a stick, the gate-keeper would squat at the entrance of the fold—that had no door. In that position, he himself became “the door.” Only those, whomever he allowed to pass through, could approach the sheep. Jesus assumes the role of the one who watches over the sheep-fold and hence, in the second part of today’s gospel Jesus says, he is “the Gate.” When the night is over, when a shepherd stands at the entrance, the sheep would immediately recognize his steps and voice and followed him. From this experience of the people of the land, Jesus narrates this parable. The true shepherd knows his sheep by their names, and calls them “one by one.” For Jesus, anonymous crowd does not exist. He takes interest in each of his sheep. He pays attention to the gifts, strengths, and weaknesses of each of them. This is what we read about God in the prophesy of Isaiah: “He carries the lambs in his bosom, gently leading those that are with young” (Is 40:11). He understands their difficulties, helps and respects them. There are also thieves and bandits around. Who are they? They could be the religious and political leaders who put on the mask of shepherds who create an impression of caring for the people’s welfare, but in reality, are greedy of domination and exploitation; their methods were violence and lies. Jesus uses three verbs to summarize their works of death: They steal, kill and destroy. Today’s Gospel has an insistence on the “voice of the shepherd” that is “heard”, “recognized”, and immediately distinguished from that of the strangers’. After the resurrection, the disciples could not recognise Jesus when they saw him face to face. He was mistaken for a wayfarer, a ghost, a gardener but His voice was unmistakable and they recognised him. Today this voice continues to resound, crisp and alive in the words of the gospel. It is the only voice that would sound familiar to the disciple. Those who are “taught by the Spirit” are able to discern the voice of the shepherd. Let us be attentive to that voice that ensures us green pastures, abundance of water and protection from the enemies.