Religious Education 

WEEKEND GOSPEL 

GOSPEL       John 10:11-18

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John

The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep.Jesus said:‘I am the good shepherd:the good shepherd is one who lays down his life for his sheep.The hired man, since he is not the shepherd and the sheep do not belong to him,abandons the sheep and runs away as soon as he sees a wolf coming,and then the wolf attacks and scatters the sheep; this is because he is only a hired manand has no concern for the sheep.I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me,just as the Father knows me and I know the Father;and I lay down my life for my sheep. And there are other sheep I havethat are not of this fold, and these I have to lead as well.They too will listen to my voice, and there will be only one flockand one shepherd. The Father loves me,because I lay down my lifein order to take it up again. No one takes it from me; I lay it down of my own free will,and as it is in my power to lay it down, so it is in my power to take it up again;and this is the command I have been given by my Father.’

 A beginning point for discussion of this week's Gospel with children:

• Can you think of some people who have the job of protecting or looking after people?
• What would they need to be like or need to know to do their jobs well?
• Jesus calls himself the Good Shepherd who cares for his sheep.
• Who are the sheep Jesus cares for?
• We are his flock. How can we be a good flock?
• We give thanks for God’s love and care for us and pray that we can show God’s love to others.

We pray that we will always recognise Jesus among us.