The Gospel lesson today is a bit dense. It might be best to try to unpack it.

For thousands of years human beings have been seeking the secret to happiness, across all cultures and all times.

In his first letter John wrote, “Whoever does not love, does not know God.” This is the same John who always seemed to be with Jesus wherever he went. John had come to this conclusion by spending time in the presence of God in Christ. “Whoever does not love, does not know God.” The outcome of spending so much time in the presence of God was that it made one grow in the ability to love. This is the unique form of Christian love known as ‘agape’.

Today is Good Shepherd Sunday. The relationship between a shepherd and his sheep is probably the most common metaphor used in the Bible to describe the relationship between God and his people. While there may be many shepherds within the church there is only one Good Shepherd, and that is Jesus Christ.

Soon after the Resurrection people who did not believe offered various reasons for the persistence of those who were believers. Why did they believe?