Gospel (Jn 10,1-10) - At that time, Jesus said: «Truly, truly, I say to you: whoever does not enter the sheep pen through the door, but climbs in from another side, is a thief and a robber. Whoever enters through the door, however, is a shepherd of the sheep. The guardian opens the door to him and the sheep listen to his voice: he calls his sheep, each by name, and leads them out. And when he has driven out all his sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will not follow a stranger, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers." Jesus told them this simile, but they did not understand what he was talking about. Then Jesus said to them again: “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All those who came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door: if anyone enters through me, he will be saved; he will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance."

The commentary on the Gospel by Monsignor Vincenzo Paglia

«I am the door» says Jesus and the meaning of this expression tells us all the urgency that Jesus feels to offer himself as a passage towards life. "I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance." What does an abundance of life mean? We often compare ourselves with the small and restricted dimensions of our lives and little imagine a larger life: but Jesus came precisely for this reason so that each of us may have a full, broad, true life, what the Gospel also calls eternal life. It is a life that is received and then given. And like any gift, we understand its value only if we share it with others. We receive the full and abundant life of Jesus for others. Precisely for this reason evil wants us dispersed and isolated. In solitude and living only for oneself, there is no space for a full, broad, passionate life. The image of wandering sheep like sheep without a shepherd is precisely that of men and women who choose to go on their own, following their own instincts, their own habits, without listening to anything other than the confused voice of their own thoughts. But if we don't listen to the shepherd's voice we get lost, we become easy prey to thieves and bandits. How can we not think of the many preachers of well-being and prosperity who promise happiness without commitment, without sacrifice, without solidarity worries, in short, a life without difficulties? Jesus is also an open door for our life, which takes us out of ourselves, leads us to love, invites us to embark on a journey, on new horizons, on new paths, setting no boundaries other than those of love. Here, passing through the door that is Jesus means following in the footsteps of his love for him: a good shepherd, not only does he call us and gather us together, but he shows us the many sheep who are tired and exhausted because they do not yet have a shepherd. For them too, Jesus is the door that leads to life. And the Lord gives it to us so that we can give it to others. Let us too pass through the door that is Jesus, let us take care of one another, as he takes care of us, let us offer love to those who have none, and we will find life in abundance for us and for the world!