Our scripture lesson is taken from the 10th chapter of the Gospel of John, beginning with the 7th and reading through the 18th verses.  I’m reading from the Revised Standard Version. 

This is the word of the Lord.  “So Jesus again said to them, truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.   All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not heed them.  I am the door.  If anyone enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.  The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.  I came that you may have life and have it abundantly.  I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hireling and not a shepherd, whose on the sheep or not, sees the wolf coming and leaves.  And the wolf snatches them …