This is the Fourth Sunday of Easter also known as Good Shepherd Sunday!
Remember we are Easter people, we are “of” this Easter Good News for all of God’s people. Jesus will teach today from the Gospel of John chapter 10. Twice Jesus will tell us that He is the “Good Shepherd”, and like all shepherds, will lay down his life for us.
In fact, Jesus did lay down His life for us in the empty tomb after death and crucifixion. Three days later, God raised Jesus from the tomb and this new life is ours to receive by faith. The comforting, loving words of Psalm 23 will remind us what a shepherd really does: takes care of all our needs, leads us to higher ground, feeds us at the Table, and baptizes us at the Font.
And all of God’s people say “Thanks be to God!”
