God loves us sheep

Jesus loves you more. In this week's Gospel (John 10:11-18), He tells us just how much.

"I am the good shepherd," Jesus said. "A good shepherd will give up his life to save his sheep. A paid worker will let a wolf eat the sheep, because he doesn't own them. But I know my sheep and they know me, and I'll die for them. All people will hear my voice and become like one flock of sheep with one shepherd."

You know your parents love you because they've taken care of you your whole life, and because they tell you they love you.

You know your friends love you because of all the people they know, they picked you to hang around with, and they treat you well.

You know Jesus loves you because in the Gospel story, He said He'd even die for you! All the people in the world are the "sheep" Jesus was talking about. Jesus said He's not like somebody who's paid to watch out for us -- He's God. God made us, and we belong to God.

Some of the people who love you might not always be in your life. When you're older, you might have different friends. Your dog might live a long, long time, but Jesus will be here longer!

Jesus said He's like a good shepherd, because a good shepherd never leaves his sheep to wander away and get in trouble. Jesus will always be there for you -- when you're being good, when you're in trouble, even when you're all grown up.

People who love you a lot want you to be happy. Because Jesus loves us, He told us that one way to be happy is to make peace with everybody in the world. He wanted us to be like one flock of sheep -- for all of us to love each other. And that's not "BAA'd" news!

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK: Jesus, help me remember you love me more than anybody I know! Amen.