In St John's Gospel, Jesus' first words are a question, "What are you looking for?" After the resurrection, this question becomes "Whom are you looking for?" St. John guides us from desiring things to a realization that in the end we must desire a person: we must want to see Jesus and be with him. John conducts this formative experience on many levels. One level is through seven statements in which Jesus reveals what he is for us: light of the world, the true vine, the Way, the Truth and the Life, and so on.

Reading Ezekiel chapter 34 and Psalm 23 today we remember one of these statements: "I am the Good Shepherd." "What are you looking for?" A guide through life? Someone to show you the way? There is no better guide than the Good Shepherd.

According to Ezekiel, God was so displeased with Israel's shepherds, that he took back the ministry of shepherding Israel to himself. Thus when Jesus claims to be the "Good Shepherd" he clearly if indirectly claims to be God, not just a human shepherd or guide. Psalm 23 proclaims "The Lord is my shepherd", and the Psalm helps us to understand Jesus' claim to be the Good Shepherd.