Monday 9 May 2022

Today is Monday the 9th of May in the fourth week of Easter.

This might not be a church or a chapel you’re settling down to pray in now; not, perhaps, a beautiful mountainside or beach or one of those places where it’s easy to imagine that God is present. But nevertheless, God is here. The God who knows and calls you is present here. Present in you.
You, Lord, are in this place.
Your presence fills it;
Your presence is peace.
You, Lord, are in my mind.
Your presence fills it;
Your presence fills it;
Your presence is peace.


Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John.
John 10:1-10
‘Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.’ Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
So again Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

There is so much held within this famous passage. What has stayed with you upon a fresh hearing of it?
Turn your attention now towards this idea of being “known”… The sheep are known by the shepherd…….. they are called by name. The sheep also in turn know the shepherd……. they know his voice. Spend a moment held in this image of deep relationship… of knowing and being known…what stirs in you?

As you listen to the passage again, can you imagine yourself as one of these sheep…being called by name and led by Jesus?
As this prayer comes to an end, reflect on how this time has been… what has stayed with you or stood out to you? Talk to the Lord about this, as one friend speaks to another.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.