Jesus the Good Shepherd

(Psalm 23:1-6; Ezekiel 34:11-24)

1AMEN, amen I say to you: He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up another way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4And when he hath let out his own sheep, he goeth before them: and the sheep follow him, because they know his voice. 5But a stranger they follow not, but fly from him, because they know not the voice of strangers. 6This proverb Jesus spoke to them. But they understood not what he spoke to them.

7Jesus therefore said to them again: Amen, amen I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8All others, as many as have come, are thieves and robbers: and the sheep heard them not. 9I am the door. By me, if any man enter in, he shall be saved: and he shall go in, and go out, and shall find pastures. 10The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I am come that they may have life, and may have it more abundantly.

11I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd giveth his life for his sheep. 12But the hireling, and he that is not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and flieth: and the wolf catcheth, and scattereth the sheep: 13And the hireling flieth, because he is a hireling: and he hath no care for the sheep. 14I am the good shepherd; and I know mine, and mine know me. 15As the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father: and I lay down my life for my sheep. 16And other sheep I have, that are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd. 17Therefore doth the Father love me: because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. 18No man taketh it away from me: but I lay it down of myself, and I have power to lay it down: and I have power to take it up again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

19A dissension rose again among the Jews for these words. 20And many of them said: He hath a devil, and is mad: why hear you him? 21Others said: These are not the words of one that hath a devil: Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?

The Unbelief of the Jews

22And it was the feast of the dedication at Jerusalem: and it was winter. 23And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon's porch. 24The Jews therefore came round about him, and said to him: How long dost thou hold our souls in suspense? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. 25Jesus answered them: I speak to you, and you believe not: the works that I do in the name of my Father, they give testimony of me. 26But you do not believe, because you are not of my sheep. 27My sheep hear my voice: and I know them, and they follow me. 28And I give them life everlasting; and they shall not perish for ever, and no man shall pluck them out of my hand. 29That which my Father hath given me, is greater than all: and no one can snatch them out of the hand of my Father. 30I and the Father are one.

31The Jews then took up stones to stone him. 32Jesus answered them: Many good works I have shewed you from my Father; for which of these works do you stone me? 33The Jews answered him: For a good work we stone thee not, but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, maketh thyself God. 34Jesus answered them: Is it not written in your law: I said you are gods? 35If he called them gods, to whom to word of God was spoken, and the scripture cannot be broken; 36Do you say of him whom the Father hath sanctified and sent into the world: Thou blasphemest, because I said, I am the Son of God? 37If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. 38But if I do, though you will not believe me, believe the works: that you may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in the Father. 39They sought therefore to take him; and he escaped out of their hands.

Many across the Jordan Believe

40And he went again beyond the Jordan, into that place where John was baptizing first; and there he abode. 41And many resorted to him, and they said: John indeed did no sign. 42But all things whatsoever John said of this man, were true. And many believed in him.