XXI.

Jesus the Good Shepherd.

RESPONSIVE READING.

OMFORT ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned;

That she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins.

The voice of one that crieth, Prepare ye in the wilderness the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain.

Behold, the Lord God will come as a mighty one, and his arm shall rule for him : behold, his reward is with him, and his recompence before him.

He shall feed his flock like a shepherd, he shall gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom.

WHILE

SUPERINTENDENT'S READING.

Jesus was stopping at Capernaum, his brothers came from Nazareth to ask him to go with them to the Feast of the Tabernacle at Jerusalem. Jesus did not wish to arouse the hostility of his foes by having a large company about him, and therefore declined to go with them. He afterward went to the feast alone, and began to teach in the Temple.

S

SELECTION FROM THE SCRIPTURES.

OME therefore of them of Jerusalem said, Is not this he whom they seek to kill ? The Pharisees heard the multitude murmuring these things concerning him; and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to take him. Jesus therefore said, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life. I am the good shepherd: and I know mine own, and mine own know me, even as the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and they shall become one flock, one shepherd.

The officers therefore came to the chief priests and Pharisees; and said unto them, Why did ye not bring him? The officers answered, Never man so spake. The Pharisees therefore answered them, Are ye also led astray? Hath any of the rulers believed on him, or of the Pharisees? But this multitude which knoweth not the law are accursed. Nicodemus saith unto them, Doth our law judge a man, except it first hear from himself and know what he doeth? They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee?

CHANT.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:

He leadeth me be-side the still waters. he guideth me in the for his name's sake. A-MEN.

paths of righteousness

FA

PRAYER.

ATHER of light and life, We thank thee for every good and perfect gift that cometh down from thee. We gratefully acknowledge that the best and most perfect gift from thee to us is the light that the Saviour brought into the world. May we walk evermore in that light: so shall we be strong in the hour of temptation, resigned in the time of trouble, and generous and helpful in seasons of prosperity. As the good shepherd leads his flock beside the still waters and into green pastures, so, Father, by the light of the teachings and example of Jesus guide us to a nobler and a truer life. And with us guide all thy children. Carry the weak and feeble upon thy bosom, lead those that wander away into forbidden paths back to the true way; until at last the Master's words shall indeed be fulfilled, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd. AMEN.