ACC ~ John 10 v14

THE PROMISES OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD

CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA: You may learn, if you will, the profound wisdom of the most holy Shepherd and instructor, the Lord of the universe and the Word of the Father. He presents himself to us by way of allegory as the shepherd of the sheep, and so in this way serves also as the teacher of children. [1] Speaking through Ezekiel to the Jewish elders, he gives them a salutary example of true care. “I will bind up the injured and will heal the sick; I will bring back the strays and pasture them on my holy mountain.” [2] These are the promises of the good Shepherd. Pasture us children like sheep, O Lord. Fill us with your own food, the food of righteousness. As our instructor, feed us on your holy mountain, the church above the clouds that touches the heavens. CHRIST THE EDUCATOR 1.9. [3]

[1] Gk paedagogue.

[2] Ezek 34:14-16.

[3] ANF 2:230-31**.

IN JESUS, HUMANITY IS UNITED TO GOD

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: When Jesus says, “I know my own and my own know me, as the Father knows me and I know the Father,” it is equivalent to saying, I shall enter into a close relationship with my sheep, and my sheep shall be brought into a close relationship with me, according to the manner in which the Father is intimate with me, and again I also am intimate with the Father. For God the Father knows his own Son and the fruit of his [i.e., the Father’s] substance because he is truly his parent. And again, the Son knows the Father, beholding him as God in truth, since he is begotten of him. In the same way, we also, being brought into a close relationship with God the Father, are called his family and are spoken of as children, according to what he himself said: “Behold, I and the children whom God has given me.” [1] Truly, we are called the family of the Son, and in fact we are part of his family. Through our relationship to the Son, we are related to God the Father, because the Only Begotten, who is God of God, was made man, and though separate from all sin, he assumed our human nature. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 6.1. [2]

[1] Is 8:18.

[2] LF 48:83**.