Daily Catholic Lectio
Monday, 22 April 2024
Fourth Week of Easter – Monday
Acts 11:1-18. John 10:1-10
Door of life
The gospel reading is centred on an ‘I AM’ saying of Jesus: “I am the door of the sheep.” At the outset, Jesus defines what it means to be a shepherd of the sheep and a thief: (a) A thief trespasses through fences and walls, while the shepherd enters through the door; (b) The shepherd calls the sheep by their names; the thief does not know their names; he treats them as objects to be stolen and exploited; (c) The voice of the shepherd guides the sheep, while the noise of the thief scatters and terrifies the sheep; and (c) The arrival of the robber destroys the sheep, whereas the arrival of the shepherd gives life and well-being to the sheep.
‘Sheep, thief, shepherd, and door’ are to be taken as metaphors, according to the evangelist. ‘Sheep’ or ‘flock’ refers to ‘church,’ ‘world,’ ‘Jews.’ ‘Thief’ is the enemy of the flock. ‘Jesus’ is the ‘shepherd’ and the ‘gate.’ During the time of Jesus, there were two types of sheepfolds: one with fencing and a watchman (cf. Jn 10:1-6); the other with a pile of rocks with an opening. The shepherd would stand or lie across the opening in order to let the sheep in and the wild animals out (cf. Jn 10:7-9).
‘Door’ signifies three things: (a) Door is an opening that allows our entry and exit. The door regulates the entry. Through God, we came to this world, and through him, we will depart. The door of life, which was closed to the first parents on account of their sins, is opened for us through Jesus. (b) Door ensures safety. What is inside the locked door is protected. In Jesus, we feel protected. (c) Door is an opportunity. Door opens us to opportunities in life and relationships. The opened door of the tomb let the disciples in to see and to believe.
When the doors of the Law (Torah), Jerusalem Temple, and synagogue were closed for the early Christians, Jesus stood as their door of life.
In the first reading, we see the narration of Peter, which describes how the ministry to the gentiles was initiated. The door of life is opened through Peter in the Cornelius event. Peter asks, ‘Who am I to restrain God?’ When Peter stood as a farmer with a spade to control the flow of water across the fields, God let the heavens pour rain. Peter stood helpless. He surrenders to God. God has his own ways of reaching out to all, which we can never obstruct. Peter enters through the door, which is Jesus, and takes others along.
What are our obstacles to identifying Jesus as the door of life and to entering him?
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“Hope is not the product of our skills and plans, but is the outcome of our encounter and relationship with Christ,” says Pope Francis. (Jubilee A. D. 2025, bite 78)
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
Missionary of Mercy
Yesu Karunanidhi 
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