ALIGNING WITH THE GATE
The Gospel of John presents Jesus with original and beautiful images. He wants his readers to discover that only Jesus can fully respond to the most fundamental needs of a human being. Jesus is «the bread of life»: whoever is nourished on him won’t be hungry. He is «the light of the world»: whoever follows him won’t walk in darkness. He is «the good shepherd»: whoever listens to his voice will find life.
Among these images there’s one, humble and almost forgotten, which however contains a profound content: «I am the gate». That’s Jesus. An open door. Whoever follows him crosses a doorway that leads to a new world: a new way of understanding and living life.
The Gospel writer explains it with three features: «Whoever enters through me will be saved». Life has many paths. Not all reach the exit or guarantee a full life. Whoever in some way aligns with Jesus and tries to follow him, enters through the right door. He won’t end up losing his life. He’ll save it.
The Gospel writer says even more. Whoever enters through Jesus «will be able to go out and come in». They have freedom of movement. They enter into a space where they can be free, since they only let themselves be guided by Jesus’ Spirit. It’s not a country of anarchy or debauchery. «Go in and come out», passing always by means of that «gate» which is Jesus, and move by following his footsteps.
The Gospel writer adds still another detail: whoever enters through that gate who is Jesus «will find pasture», won’t be hungry or thirsty. They will find solid and abundant food in order to live.
Christ is the «gate» through which we Christians even today must enter if we want to revive our identity. A Christianity made up of baptized persons who relate to a Jesus who is badly known, vaguely remembered, affirmed once in a while abstractly, a mute Jesus who says nothing special to today’s world, a Jesus who doesn’t touch hearts… that is a Christianity without future.
Only Christ can lead us to a new level of Christian life, better founded, motivated and nourished in the Gospel. Each one of us can contribute so that in the Church of these coming years Jesus will be felt and lived in a more living and passionate way. We can make the Church be more of Jesus.
Jose Antonio Pagola
Translator: Fr. Jay VonHandorf
