A time of Lexio devena for the discerning heart.

The fourth Sunday of Easter.

As you begin, take a deep breath and exhale slowly.

For the next few moments, surrender all the cares and concerns of the stay to the Lord. Say slowly from your heart, Jesus, I trust in you. You take over.

Become aware that he is with you, looking upon you with love, wanting to be heard deep within your heart.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John. Chapter 10 verses 1 through 10. Jesus said, I tell you most solemnly,

anyone who does not enter the sheepfold through the gate,

but gets in some other ways a thief and a brigand.

The one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the flock. The gatekeeper

lets him in. The sheep hear his voice. One by one he calls his own sheep and leads them out.

When he has brought out his flock, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow because they know

his voice. They never follow a stranger, but run away from him.

They do not recognize the voice of strangers. Jesus told them this parable, but they failed to

understand what he meant by telling it to them. So Jesus spoke to them again. I tell you most solemnly,

I am the gate of the sheepfold.

All others who have come are thieves and brigands,

but the sheep took no notice of them.

I am the gate.

Anyone who enters through me will be safe.

He will go freely in and out and be sure of finding pasture.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.

I have come, so that they may have life and have it to the full. What word made this passage come alive for you?

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