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PRAYER FOR THE WEEK
Jesus, help me work to stay close to my friends - and you! Amen.
Jesus told a crowd, "My sheep - my followers - know my voice when they hear it, and they follow me. I help them to live forever with God, and no one can take them away from me, because God, my Father, gave them to me. God the Father and I are really the same person."

When a friend moves, it can be tough on your friendship. Maybe you went to grade school together, but your friend changed schools for junior high; maybe you were the one who moved because a parent got a different job. You and your friend swear you'll text, IM and keep in touch through Facebook, but it's hard to stay close friends when you don't see each other as often.

This week's Gospel (John 10:27-30) is about connections - the ones people make with God. Jesus points out that nothing can destroy a person's closeness with God: Even if you don't feel close at the moment, you belong to Jesus, and He's always watching over you like a shepherd with sheep.

Friendships go through phases. You may be close to a friend and then drift apart when one of you moves away; some friends who are out of touch for a while become close again. There are even friendships where you rarely see each other, but when you do, you pick up where you left off like no time has passed.

Jesus hoped people would be with God like sheep following a shepherd, or good friends who stay close: always in touch, making sure the connection stays strong. But Jesus also knew people can stray like sheep in a field!

The Gospel story is a reminder that, like friends trying to stay in touch, God never gives up on people. Jesus' followers "know His voice and follow it" by talking to God, going to church and trying to live good lives. But even if, like a friend moving away, you lose touch for a while, your friendship with God is always waiting for you. All you have to do is send a message![[In-content Ad]]

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