The Gospel of Matthew closes with the Great Commission — the Gospel selection for the Ascension of Jesus. In Matthew 28, the faithful women disciples from Galilee had watched from a distance when Jesus was crucified, died, and was buried.

When we see people holding up signs on street corners, hoping for a donation, we don’t want to catch their eyes as we wait for the light to change and we can get away.

Christians are familiar with the parable of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. It is found in the tenth chapter of the Gospel of John. The first ten verses of chapter ten contain two parables that introduce the Good Shepherd parable.