sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away,
and the wolf catches and scatters them.
This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd,
and I know mine and mine know me,
just as the Father knows me and I know the Father;
and I will lay down my life for the sheep.
I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold.
These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice,
and there will be one flock, one shepherd.
This is why the Father loves me,
because I lay down my life in order to take it up again.
No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own.
I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again.
This command I have received from my Father."
REFLECTION
"I am the good shepherd.
A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."
Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd. A Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. Do we know priests that are good shepherds, in persona Christi, defending their sheep from any thing that harms them? We pray for our priests to follow their vocation and open up the Scriptures for us, absolve our sins, and nourish us with the Eucharist, the sacrificial Lamb.
The sheep recognize the shepherd, his voice, his whistle. As we gather this Sunday, do not be lukewarm in listening to the same Gospel, but open our ears, hear the Good Shepherd open our eyes, see where He wants us to go and stay within His protective boundaries. He will tend, care, search, instruct and feed us as we await the eternal Kingdom of God.
Remember Jesus, the Good Shepherd, is always by our side. We have nothing to fear.
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