Ps. 100.4 (the Shepherd Gate)

Enter his gates / with thanksgiving
his courts / with praise. 

From the Shepherd King to his gates. This verse represents the ‘consummation’ of the psalm as the pilgrims (the sheep) enter the gates and courts of Yhwh. And I want to pause here initially to explore the connection between the Shepherd and the ‘gate’. The psalm moves in these lines from Yhwh-Shepherd and Israel--(or, the world?)-sheep to a description of entering the Temple. What I think we find here is the entrance into the Temple ‘through the gate’ is the sheep entering into the protection of its Shepherd (or, perhaps, its pasture). In other words, what I find intriguing here is the close connection between sheep, the Shepherd and the Temple, with the pilgrimage to the Temple made analogous to sheep following their shepherd. As we saw in the previous reflection, there is a type of intensification in the psalm as the pilgrims move closer to the temple: from “acknowledge Yhwh is god” –to—he made us—to—he shepherds us—and now—to entering the Temple. Here, at the point where the sheep ‘enter the gate’, there is communion between Yhwh and his people. They are in each other’s presence. And, here, there is liturgy and praise. What marks the ‘communion presence of Yhwh and his people’ is their ‘thanksgiving and praise’, the exuberant outpouring of gratitude and praise to him. The ‘gates’ are the threshold to this praise; once they are crossed, and the ‘courts’ are entered, the pilgrim-sheep have arrived at their destination, which is Yhwh. Here, Yhwh is not only ‘god’, the ‘creator’ and ‘the shepherd’. Here, Yhwh is the Host to his People. Here, Yhwh enters into communion with his people. 

And it is at this point that we can propose a deepened reading: in the gospel of John Jesus describes himself as the Shepherd and the gate. He also, and often, describes himself (or his body) as the (new) Temple. If we can see in this an echo of this psalm (in whatever fashion) we find a rather profound insight: that Jesus becomes the pilgrim-Temple and gate through which his people will pass (and, dwell…) and thereby, in him, enter into the communion praise of Yhwh’s presence. In other words, he is the one toward whom one makes pilgrimage. He, as the (new) Temple, is the liturgical center. In him are the festivals enacted. In him is found the presence of Yhwh. And, more deeply (perhaps)—in him is found exuberant praise that is found in this psalm. In him (his body that he, then, commands to be eaten) is the prodigal and festive Temple-praise of, and to, Yhwh.