Sunday May 7
The passage introduces Jesus' discourse on the shepherd and his flock, and consists of two thematic and symbolic movements. The first is the contrast between the true shepherd and a thief of sheep. The shepherd does not come sneaking into the fold because his sheep know his voice and follow him. The second is the image of the fold and the gate: before misunderstanding his parable, Jesus says that he is the way that leads to the fold, to the place where the sheep live serenely and where they exit to be led to grassy pastures. The sheepfold is a place of salvation and intimacy with Christ the Shepherd.
