ACC ~ John 10 v11

FOR THE GOOD OF THE SHEEP

THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA: So after giving evidence derived from these facts, he said to them, “I am the good Shepherd.” Therefore, if I act against the thieves, not only am I not the cause of destruction for those who obey me, but I even invite them to eternal life. And so I appear to be the Shepherd because I work for the good of the sheep. Since he asserts this decisively, he proves his argument even more so, so that he may not appear to vainly portray himself as the good Shepherd. And so, with the intention of demonstrating this with different arguments, as well as the facts themselves, he says, “The good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” If, he says, the good Shepherd is the one who accepts suffering for every affliction of his sheep, since I am going to die for the salvation of the whole world, the testimony about me is beyond doubt. “I am the good Shepherd.” Indeed, if the thief kills, on the contrary, not only do I not kill, but I also give new life to men and women after taking death from them. Therefore, in every respect, I appear to be the good Shepherd according to these facts. COMMENTARY ON JOHN 4.10.10-11. [1]

[1] CSCO 4 3:202.

THE SHEPHERD OF THE SHEPHERDS

AUGUSTINE: Above he said that the good Shepherd entered through the door. If he is the Door, how does he enter through [1] himself?…

Just as he knows the Father through himself and we know the Father through him, so he enters into the fold through himself and we enter through him. Through Christ we [pastors] have a door of entrance to you; and why? Because we preach Christ and therefore enter in through the door. But Christ preaches Christ too because he preaches himself; and so the Shepherd enters in through himself…. He is also the door to the Father, for there is no way of approach to the Father except through him…. And indeed brothers and sisters, because he is the Shepherd, he has permitted his members to bear the office of shepherd. Both Peter and Paul and all the other apostles were shepherds: all good bishops are shepherds. But none of us calls himself the door. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 47.1, 3. [2]

[1] Lat per.

[2] NPNF 1 7:260-61**.

THE GOOD SHEPHERD IS GOOD FOR US

GREGORY THE GREAT: He whose goodness is his own nature and not some nonessential gift, says, “I am the good Shepherd.” He adds the character of this goodness, which we are to imitate, saying, “The good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” He did what he taught; he gave an example of what he commanded. The good Shepherd has laid down his life for his sheep in order to change his body and blood into a sacrament for us and to satisfy the sheep he had redeemed with his own body as food. The way of contempt for death that we are to follow has been shown us, the mold that is to form us is there. The first thing we are to do is to devote our external goods to his sheep in mercy. Then, if it should be necessary, we are to offer even our death for these same sheep…. If someone does not give his substance to the sheep, how can he lay down his life for them? FORTY GOSPEL HOMILIES 15. [1]

[1] CS 123:107-8**.

THE GOOD SHEPHERD WINS THE SHEEP’S LOVE

BASIL OF SELEUCIA: For the sake of his flock the shepherd was sacrificed as though he were a sheep. He did not refuse death. He did not destroy his executioners as he had the power to do, for his passion was not forced on him. He laid down his life for his sheep of his own free will. “I have the power to lay it down,” he said, “and I have the power to take it up again.” By his passion he made atonement for our evil passions, by his death he cured our death, by his tomb he robbed the tomb, by the nails that pierced his flesh he destroyed the foundations of hell.

Death held sway until Christ died. The grave was bitter, our prison was indestructible, until the Shepherd went down and brought to his sheep confined there the good news of their release. His appearance among them gave them a pledge of their resurrection and called them to a new life beyond the grave. “The good Shepherd lays down his life for his sheep” and so seeks to win their love. HOMILY 26.2. [1]

[1] JFB 54; PG 85:305-8.

LIKE A SHEPHERD IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING

CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA: “I will be their shepherd,” he says, “and I will be close to them,” as clothing to their skin. He desires to save my flesh by clothing it in the robe of immortality, and he has anointed my body. “They shall call on me,” he says, and I will answer, “Here I am.” Lord, you have heard me more quickly than I ever hoped! “And if they pass over they shall not fall, says the Lord,” [1] meaning that we who are passing over into immortality shall not fall into corruption, for he will preserve us. He has said he would, and to do so is his own wish. Such is our Teacher, both good and just. He said he had not come to be served but to serve, [2] and so the Gospel shows him tired out, he who labored for our sake and promised “to give his life as ransom for many,” [3] a thing that, as he said, only the good Shepherd will do. CHRIST THE EDUCATOR 1.9. [4]

[1] Is 43:2.

[2] Mt 20:28; Mk 10:45.

[3] Mt 20:28.

[4] JFA 62-63*.

WANDERING SHEEP RETURNED TO LIFE

GREGORY OF NAZIANZUS: Will you think less of him… because to seek for what had wandered, the good Shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep came on the mountains and hills on which you used to sacrifice [1] and found the wanderer. And having found it, he took it upon his shoulders, [2] on which he also bore the wood. And having borne the wandering sheep, he brought it back to the life above. And having brought it back, he numbered it among those who have never strayed. ON HOLY EASTER, ORATION 45.26. [3]

[1] Jn 5:35.

[2] Hos 4:13.

[3] NPNF 2 7:432. See also Basil Letter 46.6 (NPNF 2 8:152).

Jn