Abundant life

John 10 : 1 - 10

I am the door....

The Easter season is not over...we are still experiencing the fifty days of living in the light of the Resurrection, of learning what it all means in our lives. The readings from the gospel of John help us in this. Jesus teaches us things about himself. Here he reminds us that he is the "door" of the sheepfold. It is through him that the sheep move in and out to find pasture by day and to sleep in safety by night.

He is indeed the door by which we experience the "abundant life" - the joy and peace of his risen life is ours to appropriate as we move in and through him into the world of challenges. The safety of his embrace is available when we need comfort and shelter.

I am still praying through the resurrection passages, trying to deepen the graces that the Lord has granted. The grace of sharing in the joy of Jesus' risen life, is something that I persistenly ask the Lord for. These days, I find myself becoming a bit serious, maybe not so spontaneous, especially when there are things I need to be responsible for!! And yet, as I prayed the other day, I 'saw' a smile on Jesus' face, and was drawn by the sense of his light heartedness.....not a frivolous kind, but a real and deep gladness. It was 'infectious' and I found myself responding too with a smile, feeling much lighter in spirit.