Gospel in Art: I am the gate of the sheepfold

The Old Farm Gate, Steel engraving after painting by William Collins © Alamy / Christian Art

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 9 May 2022
John 10:1-10

Jesus said:

'I tell you most solemnly, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold through the gate, but gets in some other way is a thief and a brigand. The one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the flock; the gatekeeper lets him in, the sheep hear his voice, one by one he calls his own sheep and leads them out. When he has brought out his flock, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow because they know his voice. They never follow a stranger but run away from him: they do not recognise the voice of strangers.'

Jesus told them this parable but they failed to understand what he meant by telling it to them.

So Jesus spoke to them again:

'I tell you most solemnly,

I am the gate of the sheepfold.

All others who have come are thieves and brigands; but the sheep took no notice of them. I am the gate. Anyone who enters through me will be safe: he will go freely in and out and be sure of finding pasture.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it to the full.'

Reflection on the Engraving

Jesus tells us today that he is the gate of the sheepfold. So what is a sheepfold? It is an area enclosed by four walls with a gate in in one of the walls. Nothing can get in or out unless it passes through the gate. Jesus tells us in our reading that he identifies himself with the gate. We would enter that gate in order to find safety and protection. But Jesus doesn't want to keep us locked in there. On the contrary. Like a shepherd would do at the beginning of the day, he would fling open the gate and let the sheep out onto the green pastures. They are free to roam and enjoy the rich fields.

These same dynamics apply to our lives where we go into the world, and then retreat back into a safe space to spend time with God. If we try to live our lives with Jesus as our gate to go into the world and back, we will experience the richest of lives. This also means that we will have to avoid going through other gates which may be alluring to us and tempting, but which would not offer us the same depth of life.

Our engraving after a painting by William Collins shows five children playing on an old wooden gate to a field, similar to what a sheepfold gate would look like. One boy is pushing the gate back and forward, whilst three other children are sitting on the gate. Three of the children are already barefoot, whilst another is joyfully kicking off his shoe which we witness falling onto the ground. Even the little dog is joining in the fun.

LINKS

Christian Art: www.christian.art

Today's image: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/john-10-1-10-2022/