Friday, April 15, 2016

Hearing Voices?

Deacon Tom Writes
“Hearing Voices”


Jesus often used every day examples from the pastoral settings that surrounded Him. He drew upon them because they didn’t need any explaining. People knew that all a shepherd had to do was to call out and his sheep would follow his voice. It is said that shepherds would graze their sheep in different fields during the day but when night came the shepherds melded the sheep into one sheepfold so they could have safety in numbers. At daybreak, the shepherds would simply call out and, amazingly, each sheep would instinctively follow the voice of its own protector and guardian… What a beautiful image of this dynamic relationship between the sheep and the shepherd.

We may have lost the pastoral setting that the shepherds enjoyed back then, but we are still able to understand the message Jesus wants to communicate when he says, “My sheep hear my voice”. This is what Jesus expects of his disciples….Not only the hearing but also the following too. So, a disciple is one who hears and follows the voice of the Good Shepherd.

Today there are many voices competing for our attention. Whose voice are we attuned to? Jesus is calling us to “eternal life”. He is promising us the safety and security that comes from the Father, a joy and happiness that is “not of this world”. He is calling us to be his disciples and to live our lives according to his teachings on love, forgiveness, and on how to have a genuine relationship with him and one another. Other voices are calling us to focus our attention on ourselves, on getting as much as we can here and now, no matter the cost. Many paths of life to choose; many different flocks to be a part of, and many  different shepherd voices to follow but only one will lead us to green pastures. 

Today’s Responsorial Psalm reminds us of some of the additional benefits we receive from the hands of the Good Shepherd… we are filled with his joy and gladness; we share in his unending kindness and enduring faithfulness. God cannot be outdone in generosity to paraphrase Scripture. He loves each of his sheep; our safety and well-being are his only concern.

May the voice we hear this Easter Season be that of the Good Shepherd, calling us to grow in love and service to our brothers and sisters in Christ, the Risen One!

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom

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