The good shepherd offers his life for the sheep (John 10,11-18)
Biblical reflections by Mauro Leonardi*, priest and writer
Jesus knows us one by one and desires to guide not only those who are already in his embrace, but also those who are scattered. For everyone he is ready to give life. And the gift of self is the commandment of love that Jesus received from the Father and embodied throughout his life.
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Gospel of John 10,11-18
At that time, Jesus said: «I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd offers his life for the sheep. The mercenary on the other hand, who is not a shepherd and to whom the sheep do not belong, sees the wolf coming, abandons the sheep and runs away and the wolf kidnaps them and scatters them; he is a mercenary and does not care about sheep. I am the good shepherd, I know my sheep and my sheep know me, as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I offer my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold; these too I must lead; they will listen to my voice and become one flock and one shepherd. This is why the Father loves me: because I offer my life, to then take it back again. No one takes it away from me, but I offer it from myself, for I have the power to offer it and the power to take it back again. This command I received from my Father."
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* Mauro Leonardi (Como 1959) has been a priest since 29 May 1988 and has lived in Rome since then. He spends many hours of his day as a priest and prefers building bridges rather than raising walls. For years he has been writing stories, articles, essays and books that revolve around the relationship between man and God. Author of the blog Come Gesù. Abelis (Lindau) is his latest novel. The volunteers of the Gionata Project thank him for wanting to share these reflections on the Word with us.
