JOHN 10:11–18 KNOWN, CARED FOR, AND NEVER ALONE

Year A, Monday of the Fourth Week of Easter

In today’s Gospel Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd.” It’s a simple image — but a

very real one. A shepherd knows his sheep, stays with them, protects them, and

does not run away when things get difficult.

In our daily lives, we know what it feels like to be left alone — when people don’t

understand us, when responsibilities pile up, when we feel unnoticed or taken for

granted. Sometimes even in a crowd, we can feel alone.

That is where this Gospel speaks gently to us. Jesus is not distant. He knows us —

our worries, our struggles, our weaknesses. Not in a general way, but personally.

And He does not walk away when life gets messy.

He also says the hired man runs away when danger comes. That is the difference.

Jesus does not give up on us when we fail, when we fall, or when we drift. He stays.

And He does more than stay — He gives His life. That is how much we matter to

Him.

So today is not just about understanding Jesus as the Good Shepherd. It is about

trusting that we are truly known and cared for, even in the ordinary, sometimes heavy

moments of life.

Question to ponder today: In the middle of my daily struggles, do I really believe

that Jesus stays with me and cares for me personally?

With Love and Prayers

Your Co-Traveler

Father Leo