“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 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. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.” (John 10:11–15)

Yesterday, we learned how to distinguish the gentle voice of the shepherd from the accusatory voice of the thief. Today, Jesus deepens this image by introducing a third character: the hired hand.

In our modern lives, the “hired hand” symbolizes those things we rely on—things that promise us security but abandon us when the “wolves” of suffering, illness, or death attack.

“Wealth” is a hired hand; it promises security, but when a loved one dies, it cannot buy peace. “Social status” is a hired hand; it offers affirmation, but when we face failure or humiliation, it disappears in an instant. Even our own “vanity” is a hired hand; it demands to be fed, yet under the crushing weight of the cross, it collapses. When the wolf comes, all these things run away. Only Jesus remains. He places Himself between us and the wolf, willingly laying down His life for us.

Jesus says, “I know my own and my own know me.” (Jn 10:14) In the biblical sense, “to know” is not merely to possess information about someone; it is to enter into an intimate, covenantal relationship.

It is like a child recognizing his father simply by the sound of his footsteps in the hallway. Do we know Jesus in this way? Or is He merely a historical figure to us? To know the Shepherd means to trust His will. A sheep may not understand why the shepherd leads it through the valley of the shadow of death, or why he shears its wool, but it knows the shepherd’s character. It knows that the staff is for protection, not punishment.

How do we cultivate such radical trust? We can learn from St. Francis of Assisi. St. Francis understood that to truly hear the voice of the Good Shepherd, he had to stop relying on the “hired hands” of this world. In the Rule of the Franciscan Order, he exhorted the brothers to “appropriate nothing for themselves… and to serve God in poverty and humility, as pilgrims and strangers in this world.” Why?

Because Francis realized that the more he possessed, the more he had to defend, and the more easily he would become distracted. By becoming a “pilgrim” in this world, he became a true sheep—completely dependent on the Shepherd for daily pasture.

St. Francis teaches us that when we relinquish our dependence on power and control, our spiritual hearing becomes sharper. We begin to hear the Shepherd’s voice in the wind, in the poor, and in the silence of prayer.

We realize that we do not need to be “strong” or “successful” in the eyes of the world; we simply need to be part of the flock, belonging to this one sheepfold.

Now, chew once more on the message this Gospel brings to you:

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 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. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.” (John 10:11–15)

Reflection

What are the “hired hands” in my life right now? Is it my wealth, social status, capabilities, the approval of others, or something else? Which of these am I most afraid of losing?

Do I truly “know” this Good Shepherd, or do I merely “know about” Him? How much time am I willing to spend each day in silence, growing in deeper knowledge of Him, so that I may discern His voice?

St. Francis gave up all his possessions in order to rely more fully on God. What unnecessary “noise” or clutter can I remove from my life so that I may hear the voice of the Good Shepherd more clearly?

Today’s Prayer

Lord Jesus, my Good Shepherd, when darkness fell, You did not run away; You laid down Your life to save me from the wolves of sin and death. Forgive me, for I often trust in “hired hands” more than I trust in You.

Grant me the grace of St. Francis, that I may strip away the false securities of this world, so that I may lack nothing in trust and humility.

Open my ears, that I may know Your voice intimately. Let me rest in Your sheepfold, knowing that I belong to You, and that no one can snatch me from Your hand.

Lord, I am willing to accept Your shepherding, and even more, to delight in being nourished by You.

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Writer: Paul Yeung
Project Managers: Michael Lam, Rosa Tse
Editors: Bonny Chan, Rosa Tse
English and Mandarin Editors: Bonny Chan, Paul Yeung
Cantonese Narrator: Margaret Woo
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