Jesus as our good shepherd is one who will lay down his life for the sheep. He is completely different from the hired hands who flee when the wolf comes. He defends his sheep and cares for them because they are his own. Father Jeremiah considers this truth in his sermon today.
Image: Shepherd with His Flock, by Francesco Londonio, CC0 1.0. Image located: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Francesco_Londonio%2C_Shepherd_with_his_Flock%2C_NGA_124653.jpg