A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John.

Jesus said,

“I solemnly assure you,

whoever does not enter the sheepfold through the gate

but climbs in some other way

is a thief and a marauder.

The one who enters through the gate

is shepherd of the sheep,

the one for whom the keeper opens the gate.

The sheep know this one’s voice;

the shepherd calls them by name and leads them out.

Having brought all of them out,

the shepherd walks in front of them that they may follow

because they recognize the shepherd’s voice.

They will not follow a stranger;

such a one they will flee,

because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.”

Even though Jesus used this figure with them, they did not grasp what he was trying to tell them.  He therefore said to them again,

“My solemn word is this:

I am the sheep gate.

All who came before me were thieves and marauders

whom the sheep did not heed.

“I am the gate.

Whoever enters through me will be safe.

You will go in and out and find pasture.

The thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy.

I came that you might have life and have it to the full.”

The Good News as spoken through John.