GOSPEL:  John 10:11-18
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. The hired man, since he is not the shepherd and the sheep do not belong to him, abandons the sheep as soon as he sees a wolf coming, and runs away, and then the wolf attacks and scatters the sheep; he runs away because he is only a hired man and has no concern for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for my sheep. And there are other sheep I have that are not of this fold, and I must lead these too. They too will listen to my voice, and there will be only one flock, one shepherd. The Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me; I lay it down of my own free will, and as I have power to lay it down, so I have power to take it up again; and this is the command I have received from my Father.


REFLECTION
In this week's reading from the 4th Sunday of Easter, we hear the “Good Shepherd” Gospel. As we know, any good shepherd is serious about the responsibility of caring for the flock of sheep. Sheep don’t have much sense or caution. Perhaps they simply are too trusting. Sheep also have a tendency to wander off from the flock!

Today Jesus identifies himself as the “good shepherd.” The good shepherd does everything within his power to protect his sheep. If needed, the good shepherd will even lay down his life for his sheep. The shepherd who is a hired hand may run away when there is any danger to the sheep. He simply is working for his salary and if a predator approaches, he likely will protect himself and leave the sheep on their own. The hired hand often values his own life more than the sheep he is responsible for, even though he committed himself to protecting the sheep.

This is not true of Jesus! Jesus, as we well know, loved us so intensely that he was willing to give up his life for us, his sheep! Jesus died so that we might live! Truly, there is no greater love! (Sr Kristine Anne Harpenau)

God Bless,
Warren Ziebowski
Religious Education Coordinator