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Christ -- the Good Shepherd -- is present among us, among the peoples, nations, generations and races, as the One who "lays down his life for the sheep." What is this but the greatest love? It was the death of the innocent One: "The Son of Man is departing, as Scripture says of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed" (Mt 26:24). Christ on the Cross stands as a sign of contradiction to every crime against the commandment not to kill. He offered his own life in sacrifice for the salvation of the world. No one takes that human life from him, but he lays it down of his own accord. He has the power to lay it down and the power to take it up again (cf. Jn 10:18). It was a true self-giving. It was a sublime act of freedom.
Yes, the Good Shepherd lays down his life. But only to take it up again (cf. Jn 10:17). And in the new life of the resurrection, he has become -- in the words of Saint Paul -- "a life-giving spirit" (1 Cor 15:45), who can now bestow the gift of Life on all who believe in him.
Life laid down -- Life taken up again -- Life given. In him, we have that Life which he has in the unity of the Father and of the Holy Spirit. If we believe in him. If we are one with him through love, remembering that "whoever loves God must also love his brother" (1 Jn 4:21)....
You are the Good Shepherd!
And there is none other.
You have come that we may have Life -- and that we may have it abundantly. Life, not only on the human level, but in the measure of the Son -- the Son in whom the Father is eternally pleased.
Lord Jesus Christ, we thank you for having said: "I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly" (Jn 10:10).
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