The gates of hell will not prevail

Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.  I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” (John 10: 11-18)

Jesus is the Good Shepherd who gave His life for the salvation of those who faithfully follow His teachings which were revealed and consistently witnessed right until His very death and resurrection. Even in our time Jesus does not guides us invisibly, but truly as the Good Shepherd of His Church. This is why despite the infidelity of many of her members, the Church resists all those wolves who would like to attack and destroy her. Today, in our personal prayers, may we thank Jesus for the certainty that the gates of hell will never prevail.