Jn 10:11-18
11[Jesus said:] “I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12A 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. 13This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep. 14I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, 15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep.
16I 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. 17This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. 18No 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.”
GOOD SHEPHERD... HIRED MAN. What is the difference between these two? A hired man works only within his scheduled paid time. Beyond that is overtime work that demands extra pay. A good mother wakes up at midnight to attend to her crying baby. A hired man will not endanger his life for his job. A faithful person will risk breaking his neck for a friend in danger because of their friendship. A hired man greatly rejoices at a holiday when he can get paid without having to work. For a good shepherd, every day is a holiday with the sheep.
We love hired people who become like family to us through their years of service. They cease to be hired men and women but good shepherds. We need our pay to survive. But there are far greater reasons to work than just for pay!