"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.
(Today's Gospel - John 10:11-18)