Monday 4th Week of Easter A 2026

Gospel 

John 10:11-18

Jesus said:
“I am the good shepherd.
A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
A hired man, who is not a shepherd
and whose sheep are not his own,
sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away,
and the wolf catches and scatters them.
This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd,
and I know mine and mine know me,
just as the Father knows me and I know the Father;
and I will lay down my life for the sheep.
I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold.
These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice,
and there will be one flock, one shepherd.
This is why the Father loves me,
because I lay down my life in order to take it up again.
No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own.
I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again.
This command I have received from my Father.”

 

…

Maybe the question is what do we work for?

 

What are we willing to do or give up for others?

 

If we work for pay alone maybe we must think about what should we be working for. Certainly we have to work for money to pay bills and live in the modern society. Except extreme examples who live away from others we all need money. But the question goes deeper.

 

If we know Jesus we also love others around us. We also do everything for Jesus Christ. Our actions and work performance all should reflect someone who is doing it all for God. For the one who knows Jesus loves him above all things including our own safety and well being. If we are followers of Christ then we must pick up our cross too. We must be willing to give it all up for him.

 

So while we work for pay it is done in a different manner and faithfulness, for we do everything for Jesus Christ. Because we know him. And people will learn about Jesus from how we live and how we work.

 

The first step of the believer is to focus on eternal life with God and realize all we have been given is from him and all we are going to do for work is from him. It must be considered a holy work if we do it for God. Work is a good thing. Work done for God is holy and reflects the love God has for others.

 

We may not lead a congregation in worship. Ours may not be a life of preaching and evangelizing like the disciples. But we can reach others through our love for God in all things including work.

 

As we go to work this Monday we remind ourselves it is for God we work and it is to be a light for others in the workplace. It doesn’t matter whether we are serving food or cleaning toilets or leading a company. All can be done for him and with the love and ownership as one who knows the will of the Father and one who knows Jesus Christ.