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Teaching the Liturgical Year, Easter Lessons

The Good Shepherd – Fourth Sunday of Easter

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Gospels Jesus Christ Easter The Good Sheperd

Lesson Overview

In this week’s Gospel Jesus, calls Himself the Good Shepherd. He tells us that a good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. Of course, here in the Easter season, we joyously celebrate that Jesus, our Good Shepherd, did exactly that for us, His sheep. In this lesson, students will learn about how real shepherds call their sheep and reflect on how they can better follow Jesus in their own lives.

Interactive Lesson

Lesson Materials

Sunday Reading:The Good Shepherd
Good Shepherd Reflection
Sunady Reading:The Good Shepherd Lower Elementary
Easter Code: Lower Elementary

Directions

  1. Have students read the Gospel passage, or read it aloud to your students, and then answer the focus questions. You may have students answer them on their own, or you may discuss them together as a class.
  2. Review and discuss the correct answers when finished.
  3. Show your students the video of a shepherd calling his sheep, which can be found at the following link: SophiaOnline.org/SheepCalling. Then, discuss the video with your students using the following questions:
    • What happens when the man in the video calls out? (Note: He speaks in a foreign language, so we don’t know what he is saying specifically.) The sheep come running to him.
    • How would you describe the mood of the sheep when they come to the shepherd? They seem to be happy that he is calling them as evidenced by the noises they make, and their running and jumping.
    • What does the shepherd do when all of his sheep arrive? He feeds them.
    • Does it seem like the shepherd knows all of his sheep? What makes you think so? Yes. He talks about how some of the sheep haven’t figured it out yet (that is, that he is feeding them when he calls them, even though they still came when he called.)
    • Why do you think Jesus calls Himself the Good Shepherd? Do you think this is a good title for Jesus? He calls out to us and He wants us to come to Him. He feeds us (with His own Body in the Eucharist) and He knows each one of us. Accept other reasoned answers.
  4. Have your students complete the Good Shepherd Reflection worksheet. When finished, conduct a class discussion about the reflection or have students discuss in groups or with a partner.

Answer Key

  1. He is the Good Shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
  2. The hired man will run away and leave the sheep alone when he sees a wolf coming because he does not care for the sheep, only his pay, while a good shepherd will lay down his life for the sheep because he knows his sheep.
  3. Jesus means that there are others who do not know Him yet, whom He must call and make members of His flock.
  4. His sacrifice on the Cross.

 

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