Riding the Rails

Gospel: John 10: 1-10

Sheepfolds are elaborate structures designed to guide sheep from the wide open field into a safe pen where they are safe from wild animals and robbers.  There is one gate for the sheep to enter, and they are guided to the safe place by a series of rails on either side that keep the sheep moving in one direction.  Once the sheep enter the gate into the aisle bordered by the rails they move fairly easily to the safety of the pen area.  

Jesus uses this analogy to describe his own ministry to the world.  He himself is the single gate through which a person enters.  Once through the gate, a person is guided along the way by the rails designed to keep one moving forward in a single direction.  Finally, we arrive with relative ease into the safety of the pen where neither wild beast nor robber can harm us.  Those rails are the two-fold commandment of love - love God, love neighbor, following the example of Jesus the gate.

There are no short-cuts in this process.  There is no other way into the place of safety save through this gate and this path.  We have heard the voice of the Good Shepherd who has led us to this entryway.  We have followed him to this point.  We have only to enter his gate and to follow the pathway of love to the place of safety and peace.