What struck me about this text is the fact that the Shepherd does not enter the sheepfold in this narrative. It’s not that there is anything wrong with entering the sheepfold, but the passage is clear that the door is opened and then the Shepherd begins calling his sheep by name from outside the gate. I wonder why this scene is described this way.
Another question: who is the gatekeeper who lets him in? Is it the Holy Spirit who is the key person in opening my life to the transforming power of God? Is there a more mundane explanation, such as a pastor or spiritual mentor that is used by God to open the gateway to my life? But then there’s the corporate motif. The church is the sheepfold. Many sheep are inside. Is this the some symbolic representation of the chosen of God? The point is that the Shepherd begin to call the sheep out by name to follow him. Jesus calls me out of the safety of my spiritual community, or perhaps even away from the comfort of my life as it is, to follow him wherever he leads.
Am I ready to follow wherever he leads? Am I ready to leave behind the security and familiarity of the sheepfold, whatever that is, and follow the Shepherd in faith wherever he goes? He is calling me by name! He wants me to experience the openness and freedom of the world outside the pen. I want to go. I hear my name being called. I look up. Will I follow?
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