Ebanghelyo: Juan 10:11-18
Ako siyang mabuting pastol. Nag-aalay ng kanyang buhay alang-alang sa mga tupa ang mabuting pastol. Ang upahan at hindi pastol, na hindi naman kanya ang mga tupa, pag napansin niyang dumarating ang asong-gubat, iniiwan niya ang mga tupa at tumatakas. Kayat inaagaw ng asong-gubat ang mga ito at pinangangalat. Sapagkat upahan siya at wala siyang pakialam sa mga tupa.
Ako siyang mabuting pastol. Kilala ko ang mga akin at kilala ako ng mga akin, kung paanong kilala ako ng Ama at kilala ko ang Ama. At itinayo ko ang aking buhay para sa mga tupa.”
May iba akong mga tupa na di mula sa kulungang ito. Maging sila ay kailangan kong akayin palabas, at makikinig sila sa tinig ko at magkakaroon ng iisang kawan, iisang pastol.
Kaya mahal ako ng Ama dahil itinataya ko ang aking buhay, at saka muli ko itong kukunin. Walang nag-aalis nito sa akin, kundi ako ang kusang nagtataya nito. May kapangyarihan akong itayo ito, at may kapangyarihan akong kunin itong muli. Ito ang utos na tinanggap ko mula sa aking Ama.”
Pagninilay
The Scriptural readings for this Sunday still relate to us on the resurrection of Jesus. The first reading continues the discourse of Peter. The second reading describes to us our new divine filiation. While the gospel gives us an icon of the paschal mystery: “Ako siyang mabuting pastol. Nag-aalay ng kanyang buhay alang-alang sa mga tupa ang mabuting pastol.” The pastors during the time of early Judaism and early Christianity are not of good standing. Their job is despised as one of the lowest and cheapest. They are perceived as law breakers (chiefly because mostly they cannot observe the sabbath practice). They are mostly trapped by debts to the owners of the flocks they tender. Definitely they belong to the poor of the time. Jesus identifies himself with them by using the image of the pastor. As a pastor, Jesus “offers” his life for his flock. The word “offers” here can be understood as “taking away”. Jesus as the good shepherd “takes away” his life for the flock. This is the true image of the paschal mystery: Jesus became poor and too away his life so that the flock will have life. We already saw this action at the Last Supper: Jesus “took away” (Jn. 13:4) the mantle of being Lord and master in order to wash the feet of his disciples. After washing the feet of his disciples, he put on again the mantle. In his resurrection Jesus recovers the mantle; he recovers the entire humanity from sin and destruction.
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