We now come to the second part of the parable of the good shepherd, where Jesus is seen as the door to the sheep
pen. Again we read the phrase “I Am”, identifying the speaker as God. This door involves the second type of sheep pen, which was out in the fields when the sheep and shepherd were far from the village. This may have been a cave, but it was usually a low, circular
stone-walled pen with a small opening for the sheep to enter or exit. There was no gate on this; the shepherd slept in that opening and was the door. He controlled who came in or out. There is a sense of safety and home.
Jesus is the door, the source of security. “If anyone enters by me, they will be saved. They will come in and go out and find pasture.” However, the thieves and robbers and wolves remain an enemy. On the journey, we face difficulties, but Jesus stays and suffers with us in it all. No pain or suffering from disease, injury or difficulties cannot be mended by God’s compassion. We may take
diversions, meet obstacles and retreat at times, but we rise again as we recognise and respond to the drawing of the shepherd. This is an ongoing journey. The shepherd’s gentleness, compassion, forgiveness and love cannot overcome death itself.
Death is the doorway to the fullness of resurrection. Suffering comes before rising, as it did for Jesus. Paul says to die is to live; losing is to gain. Jesus reminds us of this in the parable of the wheat grain, which dies when put in the ground where the right conditions must come for it to germinate, “but if it
dies, it bears much fruit”. (John 12:24)
Ultimately, God mends all the broken pieces of God’s creation. The brokenness has
happened because of the greed, superiority, power and injustice in the world caused by losing sight of, being out of hearing of, or distanced from the Good Shepherd of love. As long as there are broken pieces, there will be suffering. God gathers the broken pieces of the world, making them more beautiful. The journey is long. There is a need for continual conversion and constant trust that the shepherd knows the way and is the door by which we can safely go in and out.
Where do I need to offer myself the compassion the shepherd would offer me?
What problems or difficulties will I bring to the shepherd?
Will I allow the
shepherd to offer me the forgiveness, mercy and compassion which will bring me continuous healing?
Will I follow the Good Shepherd in living justice, love and compassion? Am I ready to let go of self-reliance and self-assertion? Will I
let go of one-upmanship and competition?
Will I offer my loved ones, community and world the compassion that is offered to me?
Reflection by Kath Knowles
