Fourth Sunday of Easter_C - Hearing Voices_051125

Deacon Tom Writes

“Hearing Voices?”

Fourth Sunday of Easter, Year C

Jesus often used everyday 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 gathered 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. And, there are many gods for us to follow; whispers invite us to seek fame, fortune, be all that we can be in the eyes of the world... top dog, Numero Uno, the king of the hill. How do we choose which voice to follow? 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 sacrifice. He is asking us not to count the cost of what it takes to walk in his footsteps as we endeavor 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, earthly well-being and eternal destiny are his only concern.

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

Enjoy the day!
Deacon Tom

Please Visit www.deaconspod.com and listen in as the three deacons engage in a contemporary conversation exploring the treasures our Catholic faith has to offer to those on the threshold, those thinking of joining our Catholic Community or walking away from it.


Recommended Reading: The Shattered Lantern by Fr. Ronald Rolheiser O.M.I is a Roman Catholic priest and member of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. He is a theologian, professor, award-winning author who knows how to make faith real and tangible for the contemporary reader. The Shattered Lantern invites us to rediscover that while not all seems well, or just, faith truly can make sense of it all.

Recommended Youtube: New Seeds of Contemplation: A guide to Thomas Merton’s Famous book explores the path to spiritual awakening and union with God. It emphasizes the importance of cultivating an inner contemplative life by recognizing the seeds of spiritual vitality present in everyday experiences. The book encourages readers to detach from the superficial self and embrace humility, poverty, and solitude to discover their true identity in Christ.

Fourth Sunday of Easter_C - Hearing Voices_050822

Deacon Tom Writes

“Hearing Voices?”

 

Fourth Sunday of Easter, Year C

 

In his parables, Jesus often used everyday examples from the rural settings. They were examples that didn’t need explaining. For example, people knew that when a shepherd called, his sheep would come. Shepherds grazed their sheep in different fields during the day, but at night they brought them together into one flock to have safety in numbers. 

At daybreak, shepherds called out to their own sheep, and, amazingly, each sheep followed the voice of its own shepherd, its protector and guardian. 

Most of us today don’t have direct experience with shepherds and sheep, but we still understand the message Jesus communicated when he said, “My sheep hear my voice.” 

This is what Jesus expects of his disciples. He wants us, his disciples, to hear and follow his voice like shepherds who call out to their sheep every morning. A true disciple is one who hears the voice of the “Good Shepherd” and follows without question. But as we are well aware, listening is a skillset not all of us have or employ very well. Besides…

Today there are many voices competing for our attention. 

There are many voices, idols… yes, even gods for us to follow, little whispers and distractions everywhere—peers, social media, jobs, ambitions. Be rich, famous, beautiful, powerful, successful, noticed, important… 

None of those things are bad in and of themselves—many seem like blessings we even pray for. But, left unchecked, they can easily drown out the voice of the Good Shepherd.  

How do we choose which voices to follow, and what direction to travel in? If there are many “shepherds” calling us, who do we hear and respond to? 

Jesus calls us to eternal life each and every day. As our shepherd, he gives us the right direction. He promises us the safety and security that comes from the Father, a joy and happiness that is “not of this world.” 

Jesus calls us, his disciples, to live according to his teachings of love, forgiveness, and sacrifice. It’s often difficult which I am sure comes as no surprise to anyone who’s been scarred by life.  We saw that in last week’s reading where the Sanhedrin told the Apostles to stop teaching Jesus’ message, and again in today’s reading where Paul and Barnabas got run out of town. But, when we walk in Jesus’ footsteps, we create a genuine relationship with him and each other. In that community, there’s power.

The Good Shepherd’s voice asks us to focus on God and our fellow human beings, sometimes at great sacrifice to ourselves. Other voices ask us to focus our attention on ourselves, on getting as much as we can here and now, no matter the cost. That’s the difference.

There are many paths to choose, many flocks to be a part of, and many shepherd’s voices to follow, but only one will lead us to green pastures.  Others paths may be a lot of fun, pleasant, enjoyable…. but, not permanent. 

“We are his people, the sheep of his flock.” 

This is today’s Responsorial Psalm. It again says we are God’s people, and he tends his flock. We are filled with joy and gladness; we share in his unending kindness and enduring faithfulness. God cannot be outdone in generosity. He loves each of us, his sheep. He cares for our earthly well-being and eternal salvation, if only we hear his voice and follow him. 

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

 

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom

 

Recommended Reading: The Shattered Lantern by Fr. Ronald Rolheiser O.M.I    is a Roman Catholic priest and member of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. He is a theologian, professor, award-winning author, and serves as president of the Oblate School of Theology.

 

Recommended Podcast: Another Name for Everything by Fr. Richard Rohr, O.F.M. is the founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation who teaches primarily on incarnational mysticism, nondual consciousness, and contemplation, with a particular emphasis on how these affect the social justice issues of our time.

Fourth Sunday of Easter_B - Wait, There's More_042521

Deacon Tom Writes,

“Wait, there’s more?”

 

Fourth Sunday of Easter, Year B

If you watch any television at all, you are probably familiar with those nagging commercials that bark the mantra… “Wait, there’s more”! The announcer then chimes in, “If you call now, we will double your order…That’s right, there’s more”! I’m sure they must sell a lot of their gadgets; otherwise, they wouldn’t be spending all that money on advertising. One technique that makes them so successful, I suspect, is that they are savvy marketer appealing to the consumer’s appetite for getting something for nothing… that is, “for free”. It seems that St. John had a touch of that Madison Avenue mindset too by the approach he takes in today’s Second Reading. John is promoting “God’s love for us”. He tells us that God’s love enables us to think of ourselves, “as children of God. But wait, he seems to say, not only are we children of God now, but wait, there’s even more…. “What we shall be has not yet been revealed”…..but when it is, “we shall be like him”.

Over and over again in John’s writings we discover this theme of God’s love for us and that God’s love transforms our very being, our very essence, our very identity. As John says today, we are God’s children now! And what we shall become later on, although not known now, is even greater in that “we shall be like him”. God continues to mold us into His likeness.

As I read this passage I recalled being in Amsterdam at the Rembrandt Museum. On exhibit were many of his paintings along with some self-portraits. This passage from John is beautiful imagery that expresses God, the master artisan, doing a self-portrait on the canvas that is our lives. We are made in God’s image and likeness and God, who John tell us “is” love, is always bringing out the best in us so that we reflect the Divine Love that is His gift to us.

If we could just begin to understand the gift of love we have been given, we would realize that it is something that we cannot keep to ourselves. We are God’s self-portrait. We are images, reflections of the artist. We cannot hoard or squander the outpouring of the divine essence we have been given; we can only reflect that love to those in need... the lonely, the brokenhearted, the fearful, the forgotten. God’s very presence is with us, forming and shaping our world and filling it today with His love. And that is sufficient reason for us to be grateful today and to give thanks to God… But wait…. there’s more to come……!!!

May the Risen Lord continue to bless us with His peace and Joy so that we may enjoy the many blessings that He freely bestows upon us.


Enjoy the day!
Deacon Tom

Forth Sunday of Easter_A - Abundant Life_050320

Deacon Tom Writes,

“Abundant life”

Fourth Sunday of Easter, Year A

The reason that Jesus came into this world, he tells us, is that we might have “abundant life”. That’s interesting, for who doesn’t want to get the most out of life or have the greatest experiences during this lifetime? We all do! The trouble is that we all have a different idea about what such a life would look like and how we would go about pursuing it. There is a cataclysmic difference of opinion between what we would consider living an “abundant life” and the “abundant life” Jesus had in mind when he spoke these words.

We are living in the most prosperous country ever to have existed. We are living during the most unprecedented expansion of technological knowledge that gives instant access to information to anyone anywhere on our planet or traveling in space above it. We have diagnostic capabilities that are simply amazing, increasing both the quality and duration of our lives. We have countless forms of entertainment; we have access to products made around the world. Just key in a couple of digits, swipe your credit card, and products from around the world will be at your door tomorrow. We have all sorts of toys and gadgets that compete for our time. We have so much food that we throw a quarter of it away! We want for nothing…. Except…. this may not be the “abundant life” that Jesus came to give us.

The “abundant life” Jesus came to share with us has to do with satisfying the deepest desires of our hearts: our need to love and be loved; our need to be respected as people who are created in the image and likeness of God. We have within us the need for “human flourishing” which means that we will never achieve true happiness unless we strive to become all God created us to be. Because we have this need to be all that God calls us to be, we possess an intrinsic dignity and worth that must be respected at all times. “Abundant life”, in Jesus’ eyes, envisions a just and peaceful world where we all can achieve the highest and most dignified status possible by the proper use of the gifts and talents God has given us and who one day will ask us to render an account of what we have done with those gifts and talents.

Reading today’s gospel suggests that we need to be doing more in pursuit of the “abundantly life” to which each of us has been called. In order to achieve this richer existence we should strive to rid ourselves of some of our worldly concerns such as our need to be in control of outcomes and others and place our trust in God’s divine plan; we need to overcome our selfish tendencies and resist our prideful attitudes; we need to develop a spirit of generosity and compassion. To grow firmly in the “abundant life” Jesus intended for us means that we need to better prepare ourselves to serve others and to find in them the face of Jesus who calls us to, “deny ourselves, pick up our crosses daily and follow him”. In doing so we become more fully engaged in that “abundant life” to which we have been called.

As I reflect on today’s gospel about the “Good Shepherd”, I see the many health care workers, first responders, rescue personnel and medical staff who put there lives on the line moment by moment as ‘shepherds’ watching over the flock of those who have contracted covid 19. They are shining examples of what it means to put your life at risk for love of neighbor. It is uplifting to see that proper attention is being given them and they are being held up as heroes and role models. In fact, Mattel, the toy company, just introduced a special edition of toy figures called “Thank You Workers” honoring the front line workers in the fight to combat the coronavirus. It is a small thing, really, but significant, since it spotlights ordinary people as real heroes at a time when comic book super-heroes have dominated the toy world. It confirms the message in today’s gospel: service dedicated to the well being of others is a path that leads to the abundant life that Jesus calls all his followers to travel. At this critical time for our world, we pray that we may all find this pathway. God bless you and your loved ones and stay safe.

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom

Shepherd Me, O God

Deacon Tom Writes,

Shepherd Me, O God

Fourth Sunday of Easter, Year B

One of the songs in the Hymnal is based on the 23^rd Psalm and carries the refrain, “Shepherd me, O God, beyond my wants, beyond my fears, from death into life.” This beautiful melody helps us draw upon the rich imagery of a “good” shepherd, one who keeps the flock safe and secure, even when dangers abound. The idea of a good shepherd, unfortunately, seems to have folded into the pages of history as our society has progressed from its early ranching days into the age of high-tech. Yet, it seems from some recent events that we still long to have good shepherds in our midst, watching over us, shepherds who put the needs and cares of others before their own.

Several memorable examples come to mind. The first is that of Estella Pyfrom, a guidance counselor in Palm Beach County, Florida. She was aware that many students did not have access to a computer after school. Coming from poorer families, she recognized that this was a serious problem. Her solution: she took her life savings and bought a bus, filled it with computers, and brought technology to the kids. Her mobile computer lab called “Estella's Brilliant Bus” has provided free, computer-based tutoring for thousands of students since 2011. To the many students who have received essential computer skills that promise to enhance the quality of their lives, Estella Pyfrom is truly a “good shepherd.”

Then there is Danielle Gletow who notices that Foster children go without so many ordinary things that children who grow up in biological families often take for granted. Her solution: she has created an online site where the wishes of Foster children are posted so the public can help grant them. "I'm here to be the mom to all these kids who might not feel like they have one," she said. Since 2008, her group has helped grant more than 6,500 wishes in 42 states.

These ongoing acts of kindness give us the extraordinary witness of two individuals who went to incredible lengths to improve the lives of others in need. You can call them “good shepherds” and rightfully so because their primary concern was the well-being of others, the strangers in our midst.

Christ remains for us, of course, the eternal “Good Shepherd”, the one who laid down his life for us. The Lord told us three things about the true shepherd:  he gives his own life for his sheep; he knows them and they know him; he keeps the flock together.

While Jesus is the true shepherd calling us to the one fold, those who follow him can easily recognize that there are times when we are called to shepherd others. These recent experiences of Estella Pyfrom and Danielle Gletow are extreme cases for sure. But, in the ordinary course of our day, we too have many opportunities to be shepherds to those around us. We share in the ministry of Christ, the Good Shepherd, when we share Christ with others by reaching out to those who are lonely or sick; when we welcome the stranger or feed the hungry; when we forgive those who have hurt us; when we work to break down the barriers that divide us so that we may become one in Christ. We participate most in being good shepherds when we… “Shepherd others beyond their wants, beyond their fears, from death into life”, as Jesus so often does for us.”

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom

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