I Am the Good Shepherd – A Catholic Reflection on John 10:1–42

The Gate, the Voice, and the Shepherd Who Lays Down His Life

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📖 Introduction: A Shepherd Who Knows Your Name

In John 10, Jesus gives one of His most tender and powerful self-descriptions: “I am the Good Shepherd.” Through this metaphor, He reveals how He leads, protects, calls, and even dies for His sheep. He also declares, “I am the gate,” signaling that He is both the guide and the way.

This chapter comes after Jesus has healed the man born blind in chapter 9. That healing revealed the spiritual blindness of the Pharisees. Now, Jesus contrasts their leadership with His own—not harsh, but self-sacrificial; not exclusive, but inviting.

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🔍 Verse-by-Verse Catholic Commentary

10:1–6
“The sheep hear His voice…”

• Jesus begins with a parable of contrast: thieves sneak in; the true shepherd enters by the gate.

• The sheep recognize the shepherd’s voice—showing the intimate relationship between Christ and His followers.

• This reflects the personal call of every Christian and the need for discernment (CCC 871–873).