Podcasts about Good Shepherd

Jesus didn't just risk His life for His sheep—He laid it down. In contrast to hired hands who flee at the first sign of danger, Jesus sacrifices out of love. What kind of leader are we? What kind of follower? The Good Shepherd calls us to both trust and reflect His selfless love.

This episode explores the hidden danger of self-pity and how it can hinder healing after loss. Listeners are reminded that while sorrow is natural, staying stuck in self-focus can lead to spiritual defeat. Drawing insight from Psalm 43 and 2 Samuel 12, the message highlights the importance of choosing surrender over bitterness and worship over despair. With encouragement rooted in Scripture, the episode points to God as the Good Shepherd who restores the cast-down soul and calls His children to trust Him.Key Takeaways:Self-pity is a hidden enemy that keeps us from healing and leads to spiritual defeat.True worship is surrendering to God's sovereignty, even when prayers seem unanswered.David's response to loss A mother's role in encouraging our children when grieving lossKey Scriptures:Psalm 43:5, 2 Samuel 12:16–23, John 10:11, Luke 15:4–5, Psalm 23Other Resources:Pursue Perseverance Podcast Episode 165 with Lori AponFor more information and helpful resources, check our website, PerspectiveMinistries.org & follow us on Instagram @PerspectiveMinistries.

Jesus didn't say He was a teacher of goodness or a model of kindness. He said, “I am the good shepherd.” In a world full of hirelings, noise, and counterfeit leaders, He stands alone as the One who knows His sheep by name, leads them with love, and lays down His life for their sake. This Memorial Day weekend, we remember those who gave their lives for our freedom, and we look to the One who gave His life for our salvation. The Good Shepherd is not distant or indifferent. He's present, personal, and willing to go to the cross for the ones He loves. Come find rest in His care.

In this 8-part series, Dr. Youssef explores the seven “I AM” statements of Jesus in the Gospel of John. Each message reveals Christ's divinity and His exclusive role in our salvation—from the Bread of Life and the Light of the World to the Good Shepherd, the True Vine, and the Resurrection and the Life. Through these bold declarations, Dr. Youssef unpacks how Jesus alone provides spiritual nourishment, guidance, protection, Truth, and eternal life. This series invites you to deepen your understanding of who Jesus is—and to experience the life only He can give.

John 10:1-18 ESV  1 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. 7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

“Does Anyone Care?”Unfortunately, there are times when we ask ourselves this question. We face circumstances that make us feel isolated and alone. This leads us to believe that no one could understand our situation or even care about its effect on our lives. Fortunately, as the “Good Shepherd," Jesus looks at us with compassion and is well acquainted with all we face and its impact on our lives. He cares and is ready to lead us to places of rest, renewal, and peace.Join us this Sunday for the conclusion of our “Sheep's Journey” series as we get to know the compassionate heart of our Good Shepherd and the care that He so lovingly provides.

I Am the Gate. I Am the Good Shepherd

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To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1452/29

In our series, The case for healing, we have to look at this, is God still a good shepherd? OR is He now a bad one? Seems simple but if we are going to associate sickness and diseases with Gods will for our lives, we then would have to say, God is not a good shepherd. God is now going back on His word in Psalm 23. Is that true? lets talk about it. 

In this 8-part series, Dr. Youssef explores the seven “I AM” statements of Jesus in the Gospel of John. Each message reveals Christ's divinity and His exclusive role in our salvation—from the Bread of Life and the Light of the World to the Good Shepherd, the True Vine, and the Resurrection and the Life. Through these bold declarations, Dr. Youssef unpacks how Jesus alone provides spiritual nourishment, guidance, protection, Truth, and eternal life. This series invites you to deepen your understanding of who Jesus is—and to experience the life only He can give.

In this 8-part series, Dr. Youssef explores the seven “I AM” statements of Jesus in the Gospel of John. Each message reveals Christ's divinity and His exclusive role in our salvation—from the Bread of Life and the Light of the World to the Good Shepherd, the True Vine, and the Resurrection and the Life. Through these bold declarations, Dr. Youssef unpacks how Jesus alone provides spiritual nourishment, guidance, protection, Truth, and eternal life. This series invites you to deepen your understanding of who Jesus is—and to experience the life only He can give.

The Good Shepherd Seminar: Leading the Faithful through the Papal Transition - May 19, 2025 by Priests for Life

In this 8-part series, Dr. Youssef explores the seven “I AM” statements of Jesus in the Gospel of John. Each message reveals Christ's divinity and His exclusive role in our salvation—from the Bread of Life and the Light of the World to the Good Shepherd, the True Vine, and the Resurrection and the Life. Through these bold declarations, Dr. Youssef unpacks how Jesus alone provides spiritual nourishment, guidance, protection, Truth, and eternal life. This series invites you to deepen your understanding of who Jesus is—and to experience the life only He can give.

The Thief, The Sheep, The Shepherd (Part 3). In this powerful message we magnify our need for the goodness of the Good Shepherd. What a gift it is to have the Lord as our shepherd!

May 19th, 2025:  St Peter Celestine - The Resigning Pope; Pope St Celestine V - The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same; The Path to Follow to Number Ourselves in the Flock of the Good Shepherd; St Peter Celestine - We Don't Know the Designs of Providence

Midge Noble is an online resiliency coach, podcaster, author, and speaker. She has published two children's books, SHEBA, Home Is Where Your Heart Is, and ICE CUBE AWARD, Learning To Be Cool Under Pressure. Her memoir, Gay with God, Reclaiming My Faith, Honoring My Story has just been released! Her podcast, GAY with GOD! can be found wherever you stream your podcasts. Midge specializes in helping her LGBTQIA+ community in their coming out and faith journeys. Her main focus is to stop gay suicides by educating people wounded by the church that they can be in relationship with the God of their understanding and that God does and has always loved us, just as we are created to be. To that end, Midge is very involved in her parish, The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd. Midge and her wife, along with their fur babies, enjoy spending time at their mountain cabin, hiking, and being with their friends.  In today's episode I talk about losses and how we can navigate the pain and walk in intentional love, focus, and compassion as we live more fully into who the God of our understanding is calling us to be. Book mentioned in Today's Show: To Bless the Space Between Us/ John O'Donohue Connect with Midge Complimentary Session w/ Midge Be MY next GUEST on GAY with GOD! Email  Linkedin Facebook Website Instagram @midge.noble BlueSky @Midge4.bsky.social TikTok @MidgeNoble418 Threads BUY a SIGNED copy of the Gay with God memoir!  

In this 8-part series, Dr. Youssef explores the seven “I AM” statements of Jesus in the Gospel of John. Each message reveals Christ's divinity and His exclusive role in our salvation—from the Bread of Life and the Light of the World to the Good Shepherd, the True Vine, and the Resurrection and the Life. Through these bold declarations, Dr. Youssef unpacks how Jesus alone provides spiritual nourishment, guidance, protection, Truth, and eternal life. This series invites you to deepen your understanding of who Jesus is—and to experience the life only He can give.

In this 8-part series, Dr. Youssef explores the seven “I AM” statements of Jesus in the Gospel of John. Each message reveals Christ's divinity and His exclusive role in our salvation—from the Bread of Life and the Light of the World to the Good Shepherd, the True Vine, and the Resurrection and the Life. Through these bold declarations, Dr. Youssef unpacks how Jesus alone provides spiritual nourishment, guidance, protection, Truth, and eternal life. This series invites you to deepen your understanding of who Jesus is—and to experience the life only He can give.

Reverend Mack Underwood

The Good Shepherd speaks and His sheep hear His voice.

Life has become so loud—notifications, headlines, conversations, distractions—that tuning in to God's voice can feel impossible. In this message, Dan gets personal about his own hearing loss, the noise that surrounds us, and the quiet whisper of the Spirit that we're so often missing. Drawing from Elijah's encounter on Mount Horeb and Jesus' words as the Good Shepherd, we explore what it means to move beyond just hearing—to truly listening, recognising, and knowing the voice of God. This sermon is a gentle invitation to step away from the noise and into stillness, where the Spirit speaks in the whisper.

The Bible begins with a garden, and it ends with a garden. In the first garden, Adam and Eve sinned and what they received and what we inherited was a curse. To Eve and all her daughters, God said: I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth, in pain you shall deliver children; yet your desire will be for your husband, and he shall rule over you (Gen. 3:16). To Adam and all his sons, God said: Cursed is the ground because of you; with hard labor you shall eat from it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; yet you shall eat the plants of the field; by the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, until you return to the ground, because from it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return (Gen. 3:1719). Essentially, what the curse would produce for them was the kind of suffering that sticks. What do I mean by characterizing the curse with the kind of pain that sticks with you? If you have ever suffered from nerve pain, you know from experience the kind of pain I am talking about. There are some prescription medications that can help numb you to the pain, but nerve pain is very difficult to treat. If you have had sciatica, any form of back pain, a pinched nerve, or anything of that nature, you have experienced the kind of pain that sticks. Sometime ago I read a quote from someone who said, Our first parents bit into the forbidden fruit and our teeth have ached ever since. That person was not referring to the kind of ache you might experience when you bit into something cold or hard, no... the kind of ache is the one I experienced after having all four impacted wisdom teeth taken out of my jaw in my late 20s. The curse has left us with a kind of aching that sticks and is with us until our final breath, and it is this ache that leaves us with tears. Tears over our broken world, tears over a relationship, tears over wayward children, tears over the hurt and damage caused by parents, tears over the problems sin causes in our world and to our own selves. The House that Adam and Eve Had Adam and Eve enjoyed the presence of God in a Garden that was not at all dissimilar to the tabernacle the Israelites set up and tore down as they journeyed in the wilderness, nor was it unlike the temple Solomon built after Davids death. The tabernacle and temple were designed as a model to reflect Eden as the house of the Lord. What Adam and Eve had in the garden was a gift from God that included the presence of God; In his excellent book, The Warrior Savior, Owen Strachan wrote of Eden, From the start, God sought faithfulness on the part of his people through testing. He gave them a forest-garden overflowing with beauty and gladness, trees spilling unblemished fruit, but he also gave them a prohibitionone delivered under the starkest terms: death from disobedience.[1] The tabernacle and the temple served to remind Gods people not only of the beauty of Eden but the promise that His people would one day be where He is... in His presence. So, when David wrote the last line in Psalm 23, it was the promise of God to restore what was lost in Eden that he had his heart and eyes set upon. To be in the house of the Lord is to be with the Lord. David does not have a building in mind here, but to be in the presence of God. The house of the Lord is not a structure but wherever it is that He dwells. What made the loss of Eden so devastating and catastrophic was not Adam and Eves expulsion from the garden, but that they were driven away from the presence of God. In other words, what made Eden home was the presence of God not the other things that were a part of Edens beauty. Before Adam and Eve were driven outside of the garden, God cursed the snake and promised the first couple that things would not stay cursed because He would send a Deliverer to reverse the curse of sin. The serpent entered Gods house (the Garden) and enticed Eve and her husband to doubt God and question both His goodness and faithfulness! In the garden the crafty and cunning snake spoke: Has God really said, You shall not eat from any tree of the garden? Eve replied: From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die (Gen. 3:23). The serpent then went in for the strike: You certainly will not die! For God knows that on the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will become like God, knowing good and evil (Gen. 3:45). Adam and Eve succumbed to Satans temptation and bit into the forbidden fruit, but that is not how the story ends! God found the couple and He spoke to the great serpent what is a promise to all mankind: And I will make enemies of you and the woman, and of your offspring and her Descendant; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise Him on the heel (Gen. 3:15). Strachan observes: In Genesis 3, the snake spoke first. But the snake did not have the last word in Eden, just as the devil will not have the last word in history. Strachan continues: When God shows up, the hiding stops, and justice rolls down.... the God who comes to earth is not only pursuing a mission of justice. This God is, even more, about to unleash a great rolling flood of mercy.[2] It is the promise of a better Eden through the promise of a snake-stomping redeemer that David had in mind when he wrote: Certainly goodness and faithfulness will follow me all the days of my life, and my dwelling will be in the house of the Lord forever (v. 6). Who can guide me, who can restore me, who will keep me, who will bless me, and who is it that loves me? It is the Lord of the 23rd Psalm and He will lead me to the place where I will be able to see Him face-to-face in His house forever. The House that We are Promised We have seen over and over again throughout this series that the Lord of the 23rd Psalm is Jesus the Good Shepherd, for He said of Himself: I am the good shepherd, and 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 10:14-15). The serpent is a thief, and Jesus said of him: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly (John 10:10). The 23rd Psalm is the promise of the abundant life that can only be experienced through the good shepherd. The abundant life includes the table He has prepared before me in the presence of my enemies (v. 5a). The abundant life is to have His favor in the form of the oil He has anointed my head with and the cup he has placed in my hand that is overflowing with His blessing! This is what Paul meant when he wrote Ephesians 1:3, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ... The cup of Gods favor is Ephesians 1:7, In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our wrongdoings, according to the riches of His grace. Now, think again what it is that the 23rd Psalm is saying to those of us who have been found by the good shepherd. The good shepherd leads me: The Lord is my shepherd, I will not be in need. He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. The good shepherd restores me: He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His name. The good shepherd keeps me: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. The good shepherd blesses me: You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows. The good shepherd loves me: Certainly goodness and faithfulness will follow me all the days of my life, and my dwelling will be in the house of the Lord forever. What does this all mean? There are no green pastures or quiet waters without Jesus leading you. There is no restoration for your soul or the righteousness you need apart from Jesus as your guide. There is no walking THROUGH the valley of deep darkness apart from Jesus keeping and guarding you. There is no blessing and treasuring of God upon you without Jesus. Finally, there is no goodness, faithfulness, and a better Eden apart from the God who loved you so much that He sent His one and only Son! Why did David long to dwell in the house of the Lord? What is it that makes heaven great? For what reasons does the promise of a better Eden outweigh all the sorrows of this world? These questions have nothing to do with the place and location of the house of the Lord, heaven, a new and better Eden, but everything to do with the One who is in the House David longed to dwell, heaven, and the new and better Eden. When Jesus prayed hours before His crucifixion, He prayed this: Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world (John 17:24). This is one of the reasons Jesus assured His disciples: In My Fathers house are many rooms; if that were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will take you to Myself, so that where I am, there you also will be (John 14:23). For David, the blessing of being in the house of the Lord forever was that he would be with the Good Shepherd forever. In his commentary on Psalm 23, James Johnston commented on this very point: Take away the people and a house becomes a sad and empty place. The joy of Heaven is not mansions or streets of gold. Jesus is the joy of Heaven. It will be home because he is there.[3] The Better House that David Longed For For starters, what we know from verse six is that it is certainly ours, which means that without any doubt, for those of us whose shepherd is Jesus, our dwelling will be with him. How long will our dwelling be with Him? The answer is simple: Forever. What is the House that we will dwell in forever, besides the fact that it is the Lords house? It is the restoration of what was lost in the first Eden, but better! It is the city that Davids great, great, great grandfather longed to receive, for we are told from the book of Hebrews: By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he left, not knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as a stranger in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God (Heb. 11:810). Abraham was looking for a city not made with human hands because he longed for the same thing David longed for in Psalm 23:6. The house of the Lord is the city that belongs to the Christian: For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come (Heb. 13:14). We will receive the city we are looking and longing for when God makes all things new once and for all. It is the thing that Paul wrote about in Romans eight, For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the eagerly awaiting creation waits for the revealing of the sons and daughters of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. (Rom. 8:1821) The house of the Lord that David was looking forward to spending forever in is a resurrected and redeemed earth free from the curse of sin. The Bible is full of images describing what it will be like to live in a resurrected earth free of the curse of sin. In Revelation 21, we are told that when God does make all things new and we inherit the city He has promised us, He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away (Rev. 21:4). On that day, we will see God face to face in the same way that Adam and Eve did; here is what we are told in Revelation 21:3, Behold, the tabernacle of God is among the people, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them... God will wipe away our tears because there will be no curse to cause them ever again. The new earth will be like the Garden of Eden but better; it will also be like heaven today, but better. We will enjoy physical bodies and a physical planet where the veil that shields our complete interaction of all that is spiritual will be pulled back. We will walk with angels; enjoy a full and perfect creation that will include trees, mountains, and rivers. There will be one City the City of God where we will be able to go in and out. We will run through the forests, climb mountains, eat amazing food, run barefoot through the prairies, enjoy the light of something more powerful and radiant than the sun. We will dwell on a new earth that will never again know the cold of night, but the light of a day illuminated by the Glory of God. But understand this: none of it will be worth it if our Triune God is not there! Listen, we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever because of the certainty of His goodness and faithfulness that pursues His sheep. [1] Owen Strachan, The Warrior Savior (Phillipsburg, NY: PR Publishing; 2024), 3. [2] Ibid., 6-7. [3] James A. Johnston, Preaching the Word: The Psalms: Rejoice, the Lord Is KingPsalms 1 to 41, ed. R. Kent Hughes, vol. 1, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2015), 251.

The Good Shepherd

Message from Aaron Elmore on May 18, 2025

In this 8-part series, Dr. Youssef explores the seven “I AM” statements of Jesus in the Gospel of John. Each message reveals Christ's divinity and His exclusive role in our salvation—from the Bread of Life and the Light of the World to the Good Shepherd, the True Vine, and the Resurrection and the Life. Through these bold declarations, Dr. Youssef unpacks how Jesus alone provides spiritual nourishment, guidance, protection, Truth, and eternal life. This series invites you to deepen your understanding of who Jesus is—and to experience the life only He can give.

If we get all the good stuff out of the book of John, how should we respond? If we get the gift of the Good Shepherd, and accuracy in His Word, and diamonds of revelation, how should we respond?Give Him MORE COWBELL. Let's be wildly generous with our response.  It is formally called belief, and sometimes worship, but is best understood as MORE COWBELL.https://youtu.be/Q_0Htb0dg2g

In this 8-part series, Dr. Youssef explores the seven “I AM” statements of Jesus in the Gospel of John. Each message reveals Christ's divinity and His exclusive role in our salvation—from the Bread of Life and the Light of the World to the Good Shepherd, the True Vine, and the Resurrection and the Life. Through these bold declarations, Dr. Youssef unpacks how Jesus alone provides spiritual nourishment, guidance, protection, Truth, and eternal life. This series invites you to deepen your understanding of who Jesus is—and to experience the life only He can give.

Are you a leader in your organization? If so, what are you doing to care for your team members? Your employees?  Are you ignoring the big stresses in their lives? If you are, it could be costing you in a big way. For example: The divorce of a $60,000 a year employee will cost $86,000 in lost productivity.  There are legal, low cost remedies to helping your employees get the help they need to calm the sometimes raging seas of their lives. So how about YOU? Are you turning a blind eye to the pain in your workplace? Wake up! Look and listen, and seek to put benefits and programs in place that make employees lives easier. And commit today, to start being the good shepherd. The one who sacrifices his life for the sheep. 

Jesus is the good shepherd who cares for us, knows us, and wants us. Do you know your shepherds voice?

In this 8-part series, Dr. Youssef explores the seven “I AM” statements of Jesus in the Gospel of John. Each message reveals Christ's divinity and His exclusive role in our salvation—from the Bread of Life and the Light of the World to the Good Shepherd, the True Vine, and the Resurrection and the Life. Through these bold declarations, Dr. Youssef unpacks how Jesus alone provides spiritual nourishment, guidance, protection, Truth, and eternal life. This series invites you to deepen your understanding of who Jesus is—and to experience the life only He can give.

In this 8-part series, Dr. Youssef explores the seven “I AM” statements of Jesus in the Gospel of John. Each message reveals Christ's divinity and His exclusive role in our salvation—from the Bread of Life and the Light of the World to the Good Shepherd, the True Vine, and the Resurrection and the Life. Through these bold declarations, Dr. Youssef unpacks how Jesus alone provides spiritual nourishment, guidance, protection, Truth, and eternal life. This series invites you to deepen your understanding of who Jesus is—and to experience the life only He can give.

“He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom.” — Isaiah 40:11 Who is He of whom such gracious words are spoken? He is THE GOOD SHEPHERD. Why doth He carry the lambs in His bosom? Because He hath a tender heart, and any weakness at once melts His heart. […]

In this 8-part series, Dr. Youssef explores the seven “I AM” statements of Jesus in the Gospel of John. Each message reveals Christ's divinity and His exclusive role in our salvation—from the Bread of Life and the Light of the World to the Good Shepherd, the True Vine, and the Resurrection and the Life. Through these bold declarations, Dr. Youssef unpacks how Jesus alone provides spiritual nourishment, guidance, protection, Truth, and eternal life. This series invites you to deepen your understanding of who Jesus is—and to experience the life only He can give.

Why is it so challenging to do the simple things? As Christians we are followers and disciples of Christ. The call to follow Jesus is simple in its nature, yet quite challenging in what it requires.It's the space between desire, expectations, who we are, and the path God has for us.One of the biggest challenges or tensions in this is who we are listening to, what we partner with, and ultimately what we choose while we are navigating the different textures of life. God made us dynamic with brains, hearts, desires, emotions, which all play a part in how we navigate choices and the unknowns. One of the more intimate metaphors in the bible is when David writes about God being His shepherd. As a young boy David was a shepherd himself and he experienced what it was like to know, care for, and be responsible for his sheep. The 23rd Psalm comes out of personal experience as a shepherd and who David knew God to be. Psalm 23The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.Continuing in the shepherd theme, in John 10:14 Jesus calls himself the Good Shepherd “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.”There is a unique relationship between the shepherd and the sheep: Sheep learn to trust a shepherd through recognizing his voice and scent, and understanding that he provides safety, food, and care. Later on in vs 27 Jesus goes even further and says “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”As His followers, may we be fast to recognize and hear His voice. To be able to give thanks for His provision, even when it's not what we were expecting or wanting. God is faithful and a Good Shepherd. We are His sheep and we are thankful for His presence, guidance, and restoration.For more info, you can go to our website, check us out on Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube. If you would like to support STUDIO financially, you can do so here.Have a great week!

In this 8-part series, Dr. Youssef explores the seven “I AM” statements of Jesus in the Gospel of John. Each message reveals Christ's divinity and His exclusive role in our salvation—from the Bread of Life and the Light of the World to the Good Shepherd, the True Vine, and the Resurrection and the Life. Through these bold declarations, Dr. Youssef unpacks how Jesus alone provides spiritual nourishment, guidance, protection, Truth, and eternal life. This series invites you to deepen your understanding of who Jesus is—and to experience the life only He can give.

Read OnlineJesus walked about in the temple area on the Portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you and you do not believe.”  John 10:24–25Why is it that these people did not know that Jesus was the Christ? They wanted Jesus to speak “plainly” to them, but Jesus surprises them by saying that He already answered their question but they “do not believe.” This Gospel passage continues the beautiful teaching about Jesus being the Good Shepherd. It's interesting that these people want Jesus to speak plainly about whether or not He is the Christ, but instead, Jesus speaks plainly about the fact that they do not believe in Him because they are not listening. They have missed what He has said and are left in confusion.One thing this tells us is that God speaks to us in His own way, not necessarily in the way we would like Him to speak. He speaks a mystical, profound, gentle and hidden language. He reveals His deepest mysteries only to those who have come to learn His language. But to those who do not understand God's language, confusion sets in.If you ever find yourself confused in life, or confused about the plan God has for you, then perhaps it's time to examine how carefully you listen to the way God speaks. We could beg God, day and night, to “speak plainly” to us, but He will only speak in the way He has always spoken. And what is that language? On the deepest level, it's the language of infused prayer.Prayer, of course, is different than only saying prayers. Prayer is ultimately a relationship of love with God. It's a communication on the deepest level. Prayer is an act of God within our soul by which God invites us to believe in Him, to follow Him, and to love Him. This invitation is continually offered to us, but too often we fail to hear it because we fail to truly pray.Much of John's Gospel, including Chapter Ten from which we are reading today, speaks in a mystical way. It's not possible to simply read it like a novel and comprehend all that Jesus says with one read. Jesus' teaching must be heard in your soul, prayerfully, pondered, and heard. This approach will open the ears of your heart to the certitude of the voice of God.Reflect, today, upon the mysterious ways in which God communicates to you. If you do not understand how He speaks, then that is a good starting point. Spend time with this Gospel, prayerfully pondering it. Meditate upon Jesus' words, listening for His voice. Learn His language through silent prayer and allow His holy words to draw you to Himself.My mysterious and hidden Lord, You speak to me day and night and continually reveal Your love to me. Help me to learn to listen to You so that I may grow deep in faith and may truly become Your follower in every way. Jesus, I trust in You. Image: James Tissot, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Fr. Patrick preached this homily on May 12, 2025. The readings are from Acts 11:1-18, Psalm 42:2-3; 43:3, 4, & John 10:1-10. — Connect with us! Website: https://slakingthirsts.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCytcnEsuKXBI-xN8mv9mkfw

Read Online“But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as the shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice.” John 10:2–4Do you recognize the voice of the Shepherd? Does He lead you each and every day, guiding you into His holy will? How attentive are you to what He speaks each day? These are some of the most important questions to ponder.Recognizing God's voice is something that many people struggle with. There are often many competing “voices” that speak to us each and every day. From the latest news in the headlines, to the opinions of friends and family, to the temptations all around us within the secular world, to our own self-drawn opinions, these “voices” or “ideas” that fill our minds can be hard to sort through. What is from God? And what is from other sources?Recognizing the voice of God is indeed possible. First of all, there are many general truths that God has already spoken to us. For example, everything contained in the Holy Scriptures is the voice of God. His Word is alive. And when we read the Scriptures, we become more and more familiar with God's voice.God also speaks to us through gentle inspirations that result in His peace. For example, when considering a certain decision you may need to make, if you present that decision to our Lord prayerfully and then remain open to whatever He wants of you, oftentimes His answer comes in the form of a deep and certain peace of heart.Learning to recognize the voice of God in your daily life is accomplished by building an interior habit of listening, recognizing, responding, listening some more, recognizing and responding, etc. The more you hear the voice of God, the more you will recognize His voice in the most subtle of ways, and the more you come to hear the subtleties of His voice, the more you will be able to follow. In the end, this is only accomplished by an ongoing habit of deep and sustaining prayer. Without that, it will be very difficult to recognize the voice of the Shepherd when you need Him the most.Reflect, today, upon how attentive you are to God in prayer. What does your daily prayer look like? Do you spend time each day listening to the gentle and beautiful voice of our Lord? Do you seek to form a habit by which His voice becomes clearer and clearer? If not, if you do struggle in recognizing His voice, then make the decision to establish a deeper habit of daily prayer so that it is the voice of our loving Lord Who leads you every day.Jesus, my Good Shepherd, You speak to me each and every day. You are constantly revealing to me Your most holy will for my life. Help me to always recognize Your gentle voice so that I can be led by You through the challenges of life. May my life of prayer become so deep and sustaining that Your voice always echoes within my heart and soul. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Cadetgray, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

On this Mother's Day weekend, we recall the sacrifices of our moms as we look to the example of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who is our Good Shepherd. (Lectionary #51) May 11, 2025 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com  

Read OnlineJesus said: “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand.” John 10:27–28The image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd is an endearing image. Many artists have depicted the gentleness of Christ as He leads His sheep or carries a straying lamb on His shoulders. We are given this image today as we celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday.In our short Gospel passage today, Jesus addressed some of the Jews who were trying to trap Him in His speech. Prior to this passage, they asked Him, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” To that, Jesus responded, “I told you and you do not believe.” Jesus answered this way because the people questioning Him were not interested in actually knowing whether He was the Messiah. Instead, they wanted to accuse Him of blasphemy. But Jesus tells them that He already told them Who He was through His works: “The works I do in my Father's name testify to me.”Do you see the works of God in your life? If you do, then it is important to understand that Jesus' works are one of the primary ways that He speaks to you and leads you as your Shepherd. God certainly speaks to us through His Word as it is revealed in the Scriptures and in the teachings of the Church. But He also speaks to us through His works. Among the many works of God in your life is the work of grace by which God enables you to grow in virtue. Therefore, it is important to look for the ways that supernatural virtue grows in your life. For example, do you see courage in the face of fear? If so, what is God saying to you through the increase of this virtue? Do you see a supernatural ability to forgive another? If so, what is God telling you through the increase of that virtue? Do you see an increase in the virtue of piety, by which your life of prayer becomes more important to you? If so, what is God saying to you through the increase of this virtue?The discernment of the will of God enables us to hear His voice and follow Him. And one of the best ways to discern the will of God is to look for the ways that God is touching your life. Where you see virtue increase, the will of God is present and is calling you to grow in that area. Conversely, if there is something in your life that leads you to sin, and, thus, a decrease in virtue, then this is also God's voice telling you to avoid these things. Reflect, today, upon God's actions that are perceptible in your life. Even though God speaks clearly to us through His revealed Word, He also speaks to us and shepherds us through His discernable touching of our souls. Where you see virtue increase, you will find the will of God. Where you see virtue decrease, you will not find the will of God. Listen to God as He speaks to you this way so that you will hear His voice, follow Him and receive eternal life.My revealing Lord, You speak to me day and night, calling me to follow You as my Shepherd. May I learn to perceive Your voice as You speak to me in varied ways so that I can more readily follow You wherever You lead. Jesus, my Good Shepherd, I trust in You.  Main image via Adobe StockSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.