The Good Shepherd and the Family.

The Good Shepherd Promises Abundant life. 

"Jesus said: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber.

"But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as the shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

"When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice.

"But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.”

"Although Jesus used this figure of speech, the Pharisees did not realize what he was trying to tell them.

"So Jesus said again, “Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy;

"I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” (John 10: 1 - 10).

"I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my own sheep and my own know me." (John 10: 14).

Sunday April 30th 2023, 4th Sunday in the Season of Easter is the Good Shepherd Sunday.

What does it mean that Jesus Christ is our Good Shepherd?

The Church is a family, a sheepfold and Jesus is the necessary gateway into the Sanctuary. 

God has foretold in the Scriptures that God Himself would be the Shepherd of this flock and will appoint human beings to govern His flock. (Cf CCC 754).

What does it mean that we are the sheep of God's flock? The answer is in today's Responsorial Psalm 23:

"The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Fresh and green are the pastures

where he gives me repose.

"Near restful waters he leads me, to revive my drooping spirit."

Psalm 23 is the personal experience of King David.

 If the Lord is truly your Good Shepherd, if you recognize His voice and follow Him, you can claim and own all the promises of Psalm 23. This is what Jesus means when He says: "I have come that they may have life and have it to the full." (John 10: 10).

Go for the full life!

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com