1^st READING: Ezekiel 34:1-10                                      Kathleen

1. The word of the Lord came to me: 2. Mortal, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel: prophesy, and say to them—to the shepherds: Thus says the Lord God: Ah, you shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? 3. You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fatlings; but you do not feed the sheep. 4. You have not strengthened the weak, you have not healed the sick, you have not bound up the injured, you have not brought back the strayed, you have not sought the lost, but with force and harshness you have ruled them. 5. So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd; and scattered, they became food for all the wild animals.

6. My sheep were scattered, they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill; my sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with no one to search or seek for them. 7. Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 8. As I live, says the Lord God, because my sheep have become a prey, and my sheep have become food for all the wild animals, since there was no shepherd; and because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep; 9. therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 10. Thus says the Lord God, I am against the shepherds; and I will demand my sheep at their hand, and put a stop to their feeding the sheep; no longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, so that they may not be food for them.

GOSPEL John 10:11-18

11. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away--and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. 14. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15. just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. 16. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. 18. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”