Jn 10:11-18
11[Jesus said:] “I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12A
hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a
wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches
and scatters them. 13This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep. 14I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, 15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep. 16I
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. 17This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. 18No
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:
Good shepherd. Jesus reveals himself to us as the good shepherd. How is Jesus the good shepherd?
Jesus is the way. He leads us to the
Father, to safety, and to fullness of life. Without Jesus, we are lost,
misguided, helpless, and even hopeless. Only in him can we find our true
way to God, to holiness, and to heaven.
Jesus has the right food for us. He is
the bread of life. We need sustenance and nourishment to keep us alive
and going. Only Jesus gives us food for body and soul. He alone gives
“the food that endures for eternal life” (Jn 6:27).
Jesus lays down his life for us. The
sheep are all that matter to the shepherd. The good shepherd protects,
defends, and promotes the well-being of the sheep. He lays down his life
for the sheep. He is ready to die—to give his life—for the sheep in his
care. That distinguishes him from the hired man who works for pay. The
hired worker flees at the least sign of danger.
The challenge for us is clear. We are to
know and listen to Jesus, our good shepherd, follow and obey him. We
are to trust and depend on Jesus and remain loyal to him. We are also to
unite ourselves with Jesus, working together with our shepherd to bring
other sheep to his fold.
Pray Psalm 23and make it your very own.
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