Readings for the Day:
Reflection:
In today's Gospel, we hear who Jesus is. He is a protector, the good shepherd. He will be there to save us from sin, evil, and death. He goes so far as to even lay down His life to protect and save us.
As followers of Christ Jesus, we strive to do as Jesus taught us. In 1 John, we hear that we are called to be like Jesus and to be protectors. That means we too are to love one another so much that we are willing to lay our lives down for each other.
1 John gives this call to all who are Christians, but it plays an especially important part in the vocation of us who are ordained as leaders in the church. I, as many of my colleagues, feel a responsibility to protect and nurture those who are in our care, whether pastorally, through teaching, or even with our very lives.
As we at St. Paul's look to the future of our parish, I hope this is the kind of leader we will search for. I hope the next leader of this parish will be one who will be a protector and nurturer. I hope we look for and find a minister who will continue to build up the teaching and faith of this church and will protect what we have built as fervently as Jesus protects all of us.