Gospel: John 10: 1-10
People look for reliable guides to help them in their lives. Many claim to be such guides. How are we to know whether they are reliable guides or not? We might look at education which is important, and we might look at connection to reliable institutions which give us some reasonable assurances as well. Yet, we have all experienced or known others with bad experiences from guides with such credentials and institutional warrant which leave us shaken and mistrustful.
A good guide is described in today's Gospel portion. It is the one who patterns their life on that of the Lord Jesus. They look to heal others from their ailments, liberate people from what enslaves them, and nourish those who are hungry. They are about the needs of people, but also aware that they are in need themselves, seeking help and support from others as well. The good shepherd is aware that they are not The Good Shepherd, and that they need help too.
Each of us is both a guide for others as well as one in need of a guide themselves. The Lord Jesus is our ultimate guide and shepherd who models for us what we seek to be as guides and in discerning who are genuine guides for us in our lives. The discernment of a guide is akin to the fig tree - by their fruits we will know them. Do we see love, joy, mercy, and loving-kindness, or do we see other things - in ourselves and others?
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