FIRST READING: On the day of Pentecost, Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed: «You who are Jews, indeed all of you staying in Jerusalem. Let this be known to you, and listen to my words. Therefore let the whole house of Israel know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and they asked Peter and the other apostles, “What are we to do, my brothers?” Peter (said) to them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the holy Spirit. For the promise is made to you and to your children and to all those far off, whomever the Lord our God will call.” He testified with many other arguments, and was exhorting them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand persons were added that day. - Acts 2:14.36-41

RESPONSORIAL PSALM:
A psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack. In green pastures you let me graze; to safe waters you lead me; you restore my strength. You guide me along the right path for the sake of your name. you restore my strength. You guide me along the right path for the sake of your name. Even when I walk through a dark valley, I fear no harm for you are at my side; your rod and staff give me courage. You set a table before me as my enemies watch; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Only goodness and love will pursue me all the days of my life; I will dwell in the house of the LORD for years to come. - Psalm 23:1-3a.3b-4.5.6

SECOND READING: But what credit is there if you are patient when beaten for doing wrong? But if you are patient when you suffer for doing what is good, this is a grace before God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his footsteps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When he was insulted, he returned no insult; when he suffered, he did not threaten; instead, he handed himself over to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you had gone astray like sheep, but you have now returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls. - 1 Peter 2:20-25

HOLY GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO SAINT JOHN

Jesus said: «Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber. But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.” Although Jesus used this figure of speech, they did not realize what he was trying to tell them. So Jesus said again, “Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came (before me) are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly. – John 10:1-10

REFLECTION

“Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep”
by William of Saint-Thierry
Cistercian monk

John, that Beloved Disciple of yours, was not the only one to find the way to heaven (Rv 4,1), nor was the open door revealed to him alone… You have proclaimed openly: “I am the door; if anyone enters in by me, he shall be saved.”

You are the door, then, Lord… But of what use is it to us who are on earth to see the door in heaven standing open, when we cannot get up there? Paul answers thus: “He who ascends is the same also as he who descended.” (Eph 4,10). Who is he? He is love. For love in us mounts up to you, O Lord, because the love in you comes down to us. You who loved us, you came down to us; by loving you we shall mount up to you.

You who yourself declared: “I am the door;” by your own self I pray you, open yourself to us, that you may show more clearly what house you open… The house of which you are the door is heaven, as we said before; and heaven is where the Father dwells, of whom we read: “The Lord’s seat is in heaven” (Ps 10,4). And truly «nobody comes to the Father except by you» (Jn 14,6), who are the door… Then answer us who seek and yearn for you, I beg: “Master where do you dwell?” (Jn 1,38). You answer promptly, saying: “I am in Father, and the Father is in me” (Jn 14,11); and, in another place: “On day you shall know that I am in the Father, and you in me, and I’ you” (Jn 14,20)… The Father, then, is where you are, and you are where the Father is. Nor is that all; for we are where you are, and you are where we are.