Amen, amen I say to you, whoever does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a robber. But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger; they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers." Although Jesus used this figure of speech, they did not understand what he was trying to tell 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 robbers; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

Introductory Prayer: Lord Jesus, I believe that you have come into the world so that I may have life and have it abundantly. Help me to live my life to the full as did Pope John Paul II during his life here on earth by imitating the example you have set and by putting your teaching into practice.

Petition: To listen to the voice of Christ, my good shepherd.

1. I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. On the night before Christ gave up his life, he told his disciples that he was leaving, but that they knew the way to follow him. One of them, Thomas, asked him, Lord, how can we know the way. He answered, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me. He had come to show them the way to heaven, to tell them the truth about God and human life, and to give them a share in Gods eternal life. His was a life of humble prayer, of selfless and unceasing charity, and of fidelity to Gods will. This was his way. There were many other self-declared rulers and preachers in that time. The Pharisees were teaching that one reached heaven by scrupulously obeying the Sabbath, by avoiding all contamination that might come from sinners, and by obeying thousands of other traditions of the elders. There were many other voices preaching different truths to believe in, many thieves and robbers trying to enter the sheepfold by some easier way, many blind guides promising fulfillment through more enticing lifestyles. Christs words to his disciples reaffirmed that he alone was the gate; his alone was the true path to happiness in the Fathers house. The others could preach what they wanted, but the Son of God offered the only way to true happiness and the fullness of life. He preached it with absolute conviction, even to the point of laying down his own life.

2. A life centered on Christ Jesus. Pope John Paul II was a leader who took this truth very seriously. His life was centered on Jesus Christ. His unceasing message to the world was Be not afraid; open the doors of your heart to Christ. His every day was punctuated by prayer and union with our Lord. His moment of greatest concentration and fervor was the daily celebration of the Eucharist, a sublime gift which He invited all of us to appreciate more profoundly in this Year of the Eucharist. He preached, above every other voice, that only Christ had the answer to mans deepest questions, that only Christs love revealed to man his own true dignity, and only Christs path led to real fulfillment in this life and eternal happiness in the next. In his life as a leader of souls, John Paul witnessed that many thieves and robbers come and offer new ways and new creeds to humanity, but he spoke the way of Christ: humble prayer with Christ, love for others, and obedience to Gods will. And at his death the world watched, in awe and respect, as an unprecedented five million pilgrims poured into Vatican City and offer their gratitude to this late Roman Pontiff, who had helped so much to bring them the light of Christ.

3. Our response. Those who would receive the gift of life that Christ promised, must conform their ways, their lives, and even what they think to be true, to his one Way, Life, and Truth, the way that he himself demonstrated. He calls on us to extend His invitation to others, to center our lives on him, and indeed to be light for the world. Other leaders will try to entice the sheep with their own mistaken views and selfish goals. But the world hungers for the fullness of life. Men and women seek meaning behind their lives, and a happiness that does not pass when their feelings change or when the fun disappears. Christ offers that true abundance of life, and his way alone prayer, self-giving, and obedience to the Father will lead them to it.

Conversation: Dear Lord Jesus, you are the good shepherd and I am a member of your flock. I hear your voice; I want to listen to your voice. You know me and you call me by my name. Where would you have me go? What would you have me do? I have seen the marvels you will work in a soul attentive, like John Paul II, to your voice. I want to be more attentive to you as he was. I trust in you. You will lead me, as a good shepherd, to verdant pastures and I know that you will give me life in abundance so long as I listen to and remain united to you.

Questionnaire:

1. When I find that some of Gods commands are hard on my feelings or my comfort, how do I react?

2. What ways seem too hard for me to follow? What truths found in Church teaching do I find hard to understand? What in my lifestyle does not reflect the life of an authentic Christian?

3. Trusting in the abundant graces bestowed during the celebration of Easter and renewed in the Holy Mass, what resolutions can I set to make my life a true member of the flock of Christ?