In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

     There are some images Jesus uses to describe himself that fit very well and are easily understood. When he says, for example, "I am the vine, you are the branches...", that makes sense-a vine is a living, growing thing, and as it grows, it sprouts branches-it's not so hard to understand what Jesus is saying there. And then, when Jesus says that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life, even that, as abstract as it is, we can grasp-understanding Jesus, the very Word of God, to be the embodiment of the Way we are to live, the truth we are to live by, and Life in God, himself. Even when Jesus says, in the Gospel of John, "I am the Good Shepherd", we get it. But what about the image he uses today? Today, Jesus says, "I am the gate for the sheep"? Even if he were to say, "I am the gatekeeper"-that would fit a little bit better-but Jesus, the gate? A gate is an inanimate object-isn't it? How are we to understand Jesus, as the gate for the sheep?

     To understand these words of Jesus, we really do need to, figuratively, walk the hills of the Judean countryside, in Jesus' time, to see just how sheep and shepherds lived. If we-in our part of the world-- think today of sheep and shepherds at all-we think of them as being raised on ranches, just like other livestock. They are kept in by fences, they are herded where the rancher wants them to go, usually kept in line, still, by trusty sheep-dogs. And when the sheep are where they should be, the rancher grabs hold of the aluminum framed gate, and closes it, keeping sheep in, and wild animals out. But this is not how it was in Jesus' time.

     In rural Judea which was largely a pastoral culture because the soil was so rocky and unfit for agriculture, shepherds took their sheep out across the meadows where the sheep could graze on natural grass and vegetation. Most shepherds had familiar areas that they used, staying there for long periods of time-until the season was over, or until it was time for shearing-because sheep were kept in Jesus' time, not so much for meat, as for wool for clothing. So, the shepherds kept most of their sheep for many years, getting to know them by their physical features-and naming them accordingly-knowing one as "long ears", and another as "black feet". But not only did the shepherd come to know his sheep, the sheep also came to know the shepherd-very quickly learning the voice of the shepherd, and the tone of voice the shepherd used, whether a shrill cry to warn of danger, or a calming voice to settle the sheep down to graze. In fact, it's said that sheep and shepherd in Judea came to know one another so well, that the shepherd didn't chase his sheep around the countryside-he walked in front, and led his sheep-because it wouldn't take long for the sheep to learn to trust and follow the shepherd, knowing that the shepherd would lead his sheep to green pastures, and clean water. In the daytime, the sheep would wander, and feed, and then rest in the warm middle-eastern sun. And the shepherd kept a sharp eye out for the sheep, making sure none wandered off, or wandered into trouble. Daytime was not so bad-what with the sunlight, and the shepherd's staff and rod to keep away predators and guide errant sheep back to the flock. Nighttime, however, was a different story.

     As you might imagine, in the dark of night, there would be little chance the shepherd would see a sleep-walking sheep wandering off, just as the shepherd would have a hard time seeing and warding off a wolf, before it was too late. Without flashlights and floodlights, the shepherd was at a distinct disadvantage, so, over time, coming back, often to the same meadows and pastures for grazing, shepherds, and even villages built, out in the open, up in the fields, sheepfolds that could be used by the shepherds at night, to help them protect their sheep. These sheepfolds were usually made of rocks, readily available in the Judean hillsides, piled up five feet high, in a circular stone wall. On the top, they would arrange thorns and brambles, much like we'd put barbed wire, or sharp glass pieces on a wall today-why? To keep predators from climbing over the fence-whether man or beast. Because the shepherd had to worry about both-hungry four-footed animals looking for a quick and juicy lamb-as well as thieves and robbers, looking for a sheep they could eat, or sell. Either way, the stone-wall enclosure known as the Judean sheep-fold would keep the sheep safe and secure throughout the night, since the only way in or out, was through the one passage way-a break in the wall about two feet wide, that served as the entrance and exit for the sheep. In villages and towns, there were more elaborate enclosures for the sheep of the village, usually attached to homes or buildings, with a strong door, and a key, held only by the gatekeeper. It may be that Jesus was speaking, in the first verses of this passage, about that kind of gatekeeper, who opened the gate for the shepherd, who would call his sheep and lead them out of town.

     But later in this passage, it's clear Jesus is speaking about the hillside sheepfolds, where there was no wooden gate with a lock and key. It's clear this is what Jesus is speaking about, because with these stone-wall sheepfolds that had no door or lock or hardware, how did the shepherd protect the sheep? How did he shut the enclosure, so that no sheep got out, and no predator got in? It was as Jesus says, the shepherd, was the gate-literally. For after the shepherd had made sure all his sheep were in the enclosure. He would, himself, lie down in front of the sheepfold entrance, and become the gate. Jesus tells us this, when he says, 'Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture." So, Jesus is a gate, in the sense that he is a living, breathing gate, not an inanimate object; not a few wooden boards nailed together suspended on hinges-Jesus is the flesh and blood gate for his sheep, bringing them in and keeping them in, and keeping thieves and bandits who come only to kill and destroy, out. Jesus' desire, is that his sheep may have life-and have it abundantly. But what is abundant life, for Jesus' sheep?

     Well, above everything else, abundant life for us is safety and security. Yes, throughout the Holy Scriptures, we are told, as we are in the 23rd Psalm appointed for today, that the Good Shepherd provides for his sheep green pastures and life-giving water. He provides rest, and refreshment. The metaphor of sheep and shepherd shifts a little, as in the psalm, we are told the Shepherd spreads a table for his sheep-yes, even in the presence of his enemies-a banquet table where the sheep will not be slaughtered to be served up as mutton; but a banquet table, where the Shepherd, himself, becomes the sacrificial lamb. This mixing of metaphors might be a little confusing, but the contrasts inherent in these images is intentional. The Shepherd becomes the Sacrificial Lamb of God. The sheep are not led to the slaughter, but are fed by the High Priest at his holy table. All of this is a part and parcel of what it means that the Good Shepherd has come that his sheep may have life, and have it abundantly.

     But as we said, above everything else, abundant life is safety and security-indeed, salvation, for the sheep. The Scriptures proclaim, the sheep are to have goodness and mercy all the days of their lives-but even more, they will dwell in the house of the Lord, forever. Yea, even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we need fear no evil, for the Good Shepherd is with us, with his rod and his staff, he comforts us. And comfort, it is. Jesus himself promises-promises us, he will call us by name, and lead us out; Jesus himself promises, whoever comes into the sheepfold, by Him, will be saved-and then, we will be able to come and go and find pasture, but we will be safe and secure. Because, Jesus is saying, He is not like those Pharisees and religious leaders who couldn't care less about the sheep-all they were concerned about were their own positions and prestige and wants and desires. Which makes us think about pastors and leaders we have had-in the Church, throughout the ages. And what is Jesus saying about them?

     Jesus is saying-he's not like those popes throughout the ages who took money and wealth and land and titles from their sheep, amassing for themselves unfathomable riches, while the people struggled, not to find abundant life, but to find, simply food to eat and shelter for their families. We can only hope and pray that whichever cardinal is elected to be the next pope, he will not be a thief and bandit, but a faithful and true pastor, caring for Christ's sheep, as Christ, the Good Shepherd intends. But let us not hope and pray, only, for a pope who will be a faithful and true pastor. In this time in our own church, let us also be hoping and praying for bishops and pastors who will not be thieves and bandits, leading the flock astray, taking Christ's voice and distorting it for their own purposes. And let us hope and pray that the sheep will know the difference-that the sheep; that we, the sheep, will not go after unfaithful pastors and bishops, but will seek to hear and to heed and to follow, only those who speak with the voice of the Good Shepherd-the Good Shepherd who is himself, the gate for the sheep-so that coming into the fold by Him, we will be safe and secure-we will have life, and have life, abundantly.

     Because, Jesus tells us, that is why He came, and why He became, the Good Shepherd, who laid down his life, for His sheep. So that they-we, might have life-real life, true life, life now, and life forever, and that we may have it abundantly.

     In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.