I Hear The Voice Of Jesus, The Good Shepherd, Help Me Say Yes To His Truth!

 

Several years ago, I developed tinnitus in both my ears.  It is a constant ringing, 24/7, that is it’s loudest when all is quiet.  It is blessing that I have been able to block it out when I go to sleep.  What is more amazing is that I am able to pick out individual sounds when there are multiple noises, such as voices of those speaking, as long as I am close enough to hear.

Sheep have the ability to hear the voice of their master when called to follow.  Even if they are mixed in with many flocks, sheep can determine the direction towards their shepherd.  Do we have the same ability when Jesus, our Good Shepherd, calls us to follow Him?  Yes, but we need to separate ourselves from other noises that distract us from His truth, such as sin.  How we do that is the crux of our relationship with our Savior. 

St. Peter tells us in the Acts of the Apostles that “there is no salvation through anyone else” but Jesus, “nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved.”  That being so, why do we turn away at times and look elsewhere for what we believe is our destiny?

St. John in his first Letter writes that “we are God’s children now” and “we shall be like Him (Jesus), for we shall see Him as He is.”  Again, another Apostle confirms for us God’s love despite our failings.  And, still, we struggle with how to balance our human and spiritual lives because though we hear these words, we do not listen to their truth.

Jesus in St. John’s Gospel says: “I am the Good Shepherd, and I know mine and mine know Me…and I will lay down My life for the sheep.”  In addition, He says “they will hear my voice” (all sheep He has created with the Father).  The reaction by the Jews who heard what was spoken was: “He is possessed by a devil – out of His mind!  Why pay any attention to Him”?

Why, Indeed? 

My immediate response is where does the alternative lead us?  Even if we live a long life of pleasure which grants us every desire we would want, it ends with our earthly death with no promise of it continuing in the afterlife.  With Christ’s death on the cross for our sins and resurrection from the dead to an everlasting life of happiness, we are promised that God offers us an opportunity through life’s struggles to experience joy and peace in His Kingdom on earth and a continuation of it without difficulties in His glory for eternity.

But to make that happen, we need to listen to His voice.  How do we do that?  One way is to answer a call we might have to the priesthood, Diaconate and religious life on this Vocation Sunday.  God’s Church is always in need of leaders who continue to spread the Gospel message.

If that is not our calling, then we can choose to spend our energies on everyday life vocations in what we do in our family, work, parishes and with others.  By doing this we give direct witness to our Christian faith to make our piece of the world a better place in which to live.

Just as Jesus gave us His total self, we need to respond by spreading out to the larger world with the truth of His love, justice, freedom, tolerance and acceptance.  We need to give something throughout our life to serve the Church and to help build up the Christian community.

That is how we hear the Good Shepherd’s voice and seek His truth to build the body of Christ on earth for the salvation of those who listen.  We say YES to God and NO to Satan.  

Reading 1: Acts 4: 8-12
Reading 2: First John 3: 1-2
Gospel: John 10: 11-18