I am the Good Shepherd.
The good shepherd
lays down his life for the sheep.
"I am the Good
Shepherd". These words are
so gentle with which Jesus Christ spoke of himself. He called himself the Good Shepherd, and
described: the Good Shepherd
knows his sheep and his sheep know him.
The mercenary "does
not care about the sheep", but the
good Shepherd lays
down his life for them and
the sheep follow
his voice. I know my sheep and they know me.
He showed
in his passion that he was the Good Shepherd:
1° He enters through the door of the sheepfold
and not elsewhere.
This has a very
mystical meaning. The door is the will:
Jesus enters our soul without violence: He persuades
us to follow him alluring us with his Love and with the light
Wisdom.
2° If
with the Sheepfold we mean the Church,
the Gate is
the power which is
given to the Church in both real and
mystical body, and the Watchman who
opened the gate to Him is the Supreme Pontiff by whose infallible teaching we
can know Jesus Christ.
He chose to perpetuate the
Office of the Good Shepherd, carrying out three offices:
1°
Guards: For 19 centuries, all over the world and at all times, he observes our troubles.
2° Defends:
To defend us he subjected himself
to many hardships and humiliations
3° Feeds:
He nourishes us with the Light of His doctrine.
(Vol 11, file
1878)