The Good Shepherd

In tomorrow's Gospel reading Jesus says,

My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.

Lindy Black offers the following quotable items

We expect Jesus to say that the sheep follow him because they know him, but instead he says that they follow him because he knows them.
We long to be known—to be understood at the deepest levels. (Donovan)

A fifth century prayer:

O Lord Jesus Christ,
Thou Good Shepherd of the sheep,
who camest to seek the lost,
and to gather them into Thy fold,
have compassion upon those
who have wandered from Thee,
feed those who hunger,
cause the weary to lie in Thy pastures,
bind up those who are with broken heart,
and strengthen those who are weak,
that we, relying on Thy care
and being comforted by Thy love,
may abide in Thy guidance to our lives' end.
Amen.