Hireling or Shepherd?

Mass Readings: April 14

First:	Acts 11:1-18
Resp:	Psalms 42:2-3; 43:3-4
Gospel:	John 10:11-18

John 10:13 This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep.

This is a tough question to answer honestly.  How often do we do good works for the benefit of others and not for our own personal gain?  There are a lot of people that want to sell us books and tapes and CDs and want us to come and hear them speak, but they really could care less about each of us personally.  They would most likely not be willing to lay down their lives for a single one of us, nor would they even sacrifice the profits of their book sales. 

How do we do when it comes to caring for people vs. getting what we want?  I think that we are all probably guilty at some level on this.

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to truly care for others and not be willing to use them to get what I want.  Help me to be willing to make whatever sacrifice I need to for the benefit of another.

Amen