Opening Song
I am not worthy, master and Lord, that you should come beneath the roof of my soul; yet since in your love towards all, you wish to dwell in me, in boldness I come. You command, open the gates, which you alone have made. And you will come in, and enlighten my darkened reasoning. I believe that you will do this; for you did not send away the harlot who came to you with tears, nor cast out the repenting tax collector, nor reject the thief who acknowledged your kingdom. But you counted all of these as members of your band of friends. You are blessed for evermore.
—John Chrysostom
TEXT
John 10:1-6 TNIV
“Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.”
Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.
Closing Song
The morning is the gate of day,
But ere you enter there
See that you set to guard it well
The sentinel of prayer.
So shall God’s grace your steps attend,
But nothing else pass through
Save what can give the countersign;
The Father’s will for you.
When you have reached the end of day
Where night and sleep await,
Set there the sentinel again
To bar the evening’s gate.
So shall no fear disturb your rest
No danger and no care.
For only peace and pardon pass
The watchful guard of prayer.
—Anonymous