A Few Words On "The Word"

April 13, 2008
4th Sunday in Easter, Year A
John 10:1-10

Beware the Thief

Kids always seem to be playing tricks on one another.  The trick may be as simple as hiding a textbook at school or just joking around.  Sometimes it may involve several friends who find a way to pull a prank on another friend all in the name of fun.  Humor is incredibly important in our lives, especially when we are growing up.

Unfortunately, sometimes the jokes children play on one another can go a little too far.  In their desire to have fun and build their own self-esteem, kids may sometimes single out a certain member of their group to play jokes on time and time again.  You may know this from personal experience.

What’s truly sad is that the person who is often most picked on at school is usually the most vulnerable.  Perhaps they just don’t fit in socially.  Maybe they’re shy and awkward around their peers.  There’s also a good chance that they may look, act, or dress a little differently.  Regardless of the reason, the picked-on individual has probably done nothing to warrant the abuse.  They are simply vulnerable and innocent.

In today’s gospel Jesus makes a similar comparison.  As is typical in John’s Gospel, Jesus is speaking in allegories instead of parables.  He’s mainly trying to point out that we, his followers, can often be led astray.  Our only hope is Jesus, who is the gate through which we enter God’s Kingdom.

Jesus wants us to realize that we can easily be led astray by those who come only “to steal and slaughter and destroy.”  Since we are vulnerable human beings who are often blinded by our own selfish desires, we sometimes look happily at the “thief” who comes to disrupt our relationship with God.  However, Jesus wants us to stand strong, realizing that what the thief has to offer is nothing compared to what God has in store for us.

Jesus’ illustration is a little like children playing tricks on one another.  It’s all done in fun but people can get hurt.  Taking advantage of the vulnerable person may leave an everlasting mark in the form of low self-esteem or even retaliation.  Likewise, the thief’s effect on us can be just as devastating.  We may become so lost that we have trouble finding the gate to Jesus again.

Our task is to stay focused on the gate when confronted by the thieves Jesus is talking about who come to lead us astray.  In fact, these thieves may be the ones tempting us to take part in the trick that is being played on a vulnerable person.  When we are faced with this choice, to have fun at someone else’s expense or stand up for what is right, we must remember that Jesus’ way is the gate through which we enter eternal life and our only hope for salvation.

Reflection Question

Who are the thieves in your life that attempt to disrupt your relationship with God?  What do you do to stay focused on Jesus, the gate?

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