“I am the DOOR, I am the GOOD SHEPHERD

IV Easter Sunday (John 10, 1-10)
(World Day of Prayer for Vocations)

Today we live in moments of darkness, uncertainty and insecurity. The virus circulating in the world has taken us out of our security, stopped us, slowed us down, quarantined us to preserve life and take care of it. And in these moments, we are witnesses to countless initiatives of solidarity and sharing on the part of men and women who, moved by love of neighbor, share the gift of themselves to those who suffer most, without the minimal conditions of care, hygiene, food, shelter. Others, moved by love, strive to care for their loved ones and to spread life and hope.

It is LIGHT in the darkness, it is Jesus who arrives, enters through the door and takes care of the sheep in their basic needs. We, Little Sisters of the Assumption, listen to the voice that says: “May your actions speak Jesus Christ”.

Jesus himself comes to meet us in this reality that we are living to bring LIGHT to our eyes and to give us strength for discernment. He himself says,

“Amen, amen, I say to you: whoever enters the sheep pen without going through the door, but climbs through another way, he is a thief and a bandit. (Jn 10:1)

Who are the thieves? They’re the ones exploiting people! Those who use authority to feed themselves and their interests. Jesus looked at the religious and political leaders of his time and said: “You are thieves and robbers”!

In times of pandemic, the priority is the lives of people, especially those who live on the margins of society, in situations of fragility, those who are members of groups at risk, or those who survive only on what they can acquire during the day, and have no economic reserves. Heads of State, and governments should treat all these people as a priority and take care of them; however we see with pain in our hearts, governments and authorities who are anxious to save the economy, investing millions in companies so that they do not lose profits; while others encourage people to leave home, to go back to work, return to school, to work in companies, and to continue to live normally, putting the population at risk, including the risk of death.

“This world is gravely wounded. It engenders poverty. Living among the poor of different countries we discover the extent of the domination exercised by some nations and the dependence endured by others…in our own neighborhoods, families and individuals are those impoverished and displaced people”… (Rule of Life) “Together and with the people themselves, we strive to develop or recreate bonds between individuals, families and groups, and to discover the conditions that will enable them to live and express in their culture their own way of living the Gospel…” (Rule of life)

“He who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The porter opens the door for him and the sheep hear his voice; he calls each of his sheep by name and leads them out” (John 10:2-3).

Jesus wants to free us from everything that attacks our conscience, from everything that leaves us without the capacity for discernment, without the capacity to humanize life, everything that takes away hope, joy.

To humanize life is the way of Jesus. He calls each of His sheep by name to take this path and leads them out of the enclosure. “Come out!” Jesus said to Lazarus. Come to life! For us today, Jesus adds: “Come and follow me”!

“We search with others for ways to create an environment where each one is called by name, invited to be creative and gradually to take part in building up the world” (RL 19).

To recognize His voice in the midst of so many other voices that surround us, requires a closeness to the Pastor, the ears of a disciple. “In this world where so many are searching, but where values and anxieties, good and evil, are intermingled, we contemplate the work of God. We listen to His Word, and allow the Spirit of Jesus to modify and convert our outlook.” (RL 10).

Jesus is not only the shepherd, but He declares himself the “GOOD SHEPHERD”. He is also the LAMB OF GOD. He gives His life for His sheep. This is the criterion of God’s goodness, to give life. To be faithful to the Covenant to the end. The goodness of the Good Shepherd lies in the courage to give life and denounce those who exploit people and abandon them in the face of danger.

The sheep listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd because He speaks about what they really need. They find in Him a love that is not imposed but a love that He proposes. “Follow me”.

“Jesus Christ, by the gift of His life, gathers us
together and calls us to lay down our lives as
servants for the Salvation of the world” (Rule of Life)

This is Jesus for us: Servant and Savior.
A love that redeems and makes us live in joy
.He conquered death. He fills us with hop

Agda de Penha de SOUSA-Minas Gerais- Brazil
Little Sister of the Assumption