Dig Deeper into Sunday’s Gospel: Read John 10:1–10
Early one morning last week, we saw a coyote in our backyard, hanging out by our pool. Since he was an uninvited guest, when spotted in our suburban oasis he scurried into the shrubbery and up the hill. Never in my whole life was I so glad that we had a security fence separating us. Though the fencing was installed to keep my kids safe, I wondered how easily Wile E. Coyote could leap over it when no one was looking. Perhaps he wouldn’t go after an adult; however, it does explain the missing cat, as a small pet is an easy target. Or, maybe a sheep. Certainly, it would be no match for a coyote. Not without protection.
Given my worrisome nature, we haven’t let our dogs or our precious granddaughter out in the yard alone since the coyote’s untimely appearance. This has me thinking about how vulnerable we are in this world. We depend on gates and fences to protect us, and we might take them for granted—until, suddenly, danger appears and we appreciate the boundary.
Knowing there will always be predators and thieves in our midst, God continually reminds us of His loving care. Our readings for this Sunday focus on the image of the Good Shepherd guiding and protecting His flock. Rich in meaning, the passages from John’s gospel and Psalm 23 are comforting when we long for reassurance, guidance, and security. Just as sheep need a shepherd to lead them away from danger and toward verdant pastures, we too need the One with wisdom to guide, protect, and provide for us in ways the world never can.
A Shepherd Who Knows and Guides
Being known by God is one of the greatest gifts of our faith. "The shepherd calls his own sheep by name … they recognize his voice" (John 10:3–4). We all long to be fully known, and our Lord knows us better than we know ourselves. Psalm 139:13 reveals the depth of God’s knowledge of us: “You formed my inward parts, you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.” Knowing everything about us, our Good Shepherd is attentive to our needs, so that we want for nothing under His care. I love how the psalmist explains it in our responsorial psalm:
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures he gives me repose; beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul (Psalm 23:1–3).
Picture this lush garden where God wants to lead you: it isn’t just a tiny patch of grass, it’s a flourishing Eden, abundant, fertile, and growing with everything we need. How fortunate we are to have been given this Shepherd who loves, knows, and cares for us. How can we not trust Him?
A Shepherd Who Protects
In our gospel, Jesus also reminds us that He is the gate (John 10:7,9) through which we must enter the sheepfold. It might help to know that in ancient Israel a sheepfold, or what we might call a corral, was built of stone by stacking large rocks about three feet high. This is where the sheep would sleep at night. Built with only one entrance to keep it secure, “The shepherd himself would sometimes lie down at the entrance to the pen, becoming a human gate that protected the sheep from all intruders.”[1] As our Good Shepherd, Jesus is the gatekeeper, keeping His flock safe inside, secure from predators, and driving away those who seek to enter, steal, and destroy. As the shepherds would lie down at the entrance of the sheepfold, risking their lives to protect their sheep, so too our Good Shepherd is our gate, having laid down His life for us, His flock.
Being offered protection from danger is deeply calming to the sheep. Christ provides His flock with a sheepfold for a place of rest and comfort. For us today, the sheepfold is the Church, which gives us boundaries for safe living. In times of uncertainty and confusion, our Church’s teachings, sacraments, and liturgy offer us needed security.
Perhaps like me, you’re afraid of the “coyotes”—the unknown, the fears, and challenges—that threaten your sense of peace and security. Yet just as my pool fence stands between my home and the coyote, praise God, our Lord stands between us and the challenges we face. His promise isn’t that we’ll never face difficulties, but that we aren't alone in confronting them. “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me" (Psalm 23:4 [NIV]).
The Abundant Life
My favorite part of Sunday’s gospel appears at the end: “A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came that they might have life and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). Abundant life. Who doesn’t want to live a life overflowing with all the good things Jesus wants to give? We all desire the table set, our heads anointed, and our cups overflowing as is described in Psalm 23:5. The promise of these blessings is described in The Better Part, where Father John Bartunek speaks of the hope God has for us: “Jesus Christ … not only wants to give us abundant life, but he can. Omniscient, omnipotent, and eternal, he combines utter goodness with unlimited wisdom and power.”[2]
What do we need to do to receive this abundance?
Practically speaking, we can do this by: saturating our minds with Scripture, spending time daily in prayer and adoration, and attending Mass and the sacraments. We can call on the saints and our Blessed Mother to intercede for us, and finally, we can trust our life's journey to the One who leads us.
When we do, our cups will overflow with blessings we can only imagine, the abundant life that only a Good Shepherd can provide. “Indeed, goodness and mercy will pursue [us] all the days of [our] life; and [we] will dwell in the house of the Lord for endless days” (Psalm 23:6).
Following Him with you,
Karen
Food for thought or journaling …
What are the coyotes in my life that are keeping me in fear and from experiencing the abundant life?
Pray with me the words of Psalm 23: The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack. In green pastures he makes me lie down; to still waters he leads me; he restores my soul. He guides me along right paths for the sake of his name. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff comfort me. You set a table before me in front of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Indeed, goodness and mercy will pursue me all the days of my life; I will dwell in the house of the Lord for endless days. Amen.
[1] “Jesus said, 'I am the Gate'” Our Daily Bread, (accessed April 13, 2026), https://ourdailybread.org/article/jesus-said-i-am-the-gate/.
[2] John Bartunek, LC, THD, The Better Part: A Christ-Centered Resource for Personal Prayer, (Sophia Institute Press, 2013), 895.
