HOMILY FOR THE GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY YEAR B. (A DAY FOR VOCATIONS) (4)

HOMILY FOR THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER YEAR B.

GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY

HOMILY THEME: THE TRUE SHEPHERD

BY: Fr. Benny Tuazon

HOMILY:

(Jn. 10:1-10) Fourth Sunday of Easter, Good Shepherd Sunday, A Day for Vocations.

In the day’s Gospel Jesus presents Himself as the gate through which the sheep passes into their home. The true sheep passes through the gate. The sheep knows the gate where it belongs. The true shepherd manages the sheep through the gate. Thieves do not recognize and use the gate. Their actions are against the welfare of the sheep.

The imagery of the gate reinforces Jesus’ claim to be the way, the truth, and the life. God had given us Jesus to be the appropriate door towards salvation. His teachings and actions were everything we need to know, see, and believe in order to obtain the Kingdom. There are a lot of gates in the world. There are gates to fame, riches, power, and knowledge, to name a few. All of those gates lead to worldly achievements. But, as human beings, we are not only meant for these worldly purposes. Our destiny is through death into eternal life. And only Jesus represents that gate to salvation.

Do we recognize the gate which Jesus represents? Are we contented and tempted by worldly gates? Do we pass through the gate or do we try to cheat God by jumping over the fences or walls of the Kingdom? Let us recognize in Jesus the sole responsibility and guide towards the Father. Jesus, the gate of salvation, is just willing to accept us and bring us to God’s family in life eternal.