Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 10, 11-18
Jesus said:
“I am the good shepherd.
A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
A 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.
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.”
Shepherding
1. I am the Good Shepherd. Jesus doesn’t take advantage of his flock; instead, He serves them. He gives his life for them and knows each one individually with a loving heart. What Jesus teaches us here is very relevant, because it’s easy for us to fall into the temptation of abusing authority or “clericalism”. This attitude assumes that having power means demanding obedience rather than providing service—and it isn’t limited to the Church; it can occur in our own homes as well. Nowadays, even laypeople may seek positions just so they can assert authority, including within the Church.
2. Abandons and flees. This reflects a lack of responsibility for your own life. It involves acting as a victim whenever difficulties arise and abandoning everything, your life and the lives of those you should care for, either out of fear or because it’s no longer convenient for you. Failing to take responsibility for yourself or those entrusted to you means you’re merely trying to gain from others and shift blame when things go wrong. Learn to confront challenges directly and protect what you have been given.
3. Laying down one’s life. This means being ready to stand up for what you care about and investing sincere effort into it. It’s recognizing and embracing your responsibility for certain people, through serving and giving of yourself. Your role also includes guiding those under your care and accepting that some people need you and even rely on you. Still, the most important thing is to lead and walk with them—not to smother them or foster unhealthy dependency. Today, let’s pray for vocations to the priesthood and for many people to become good shepherds in their own lives.
Never forget that something good is on the way.
May God bless you and be with you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
