Every Sunday, Bishop Edward Malesic writes a Scripture reflection for the faithful. Follow the bishop on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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Today we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Easter, often known as Good Shepherd Sunday, because of the focus of the readings on Jesus as the Good Shepherd. It is also World Day of Prayer for Vocations, specifically asking God to call men to priesthood and men and women to consecrated life. We must also pray for men and women to have ears big enough to hear God’s call and hearts generous enough to answer it.
Today’s reading from the Gospel of John tells us that the sheep recognize the voice of their shepherd. When he calls, they come to him. This should be true for us, who are sheep of the Good Shepherd, Jesus.
However, in our world, the voice of Jesus can become one among many competing voices. The voice of Jesus can be drowned out by strength of opinion polls, the vitriol of current politics, and the persuasiveness of modern culture. This is when we become confused, fear overtakes us, evil thieves more easily steal our souls away from God, and we can become lost.
That is why we must continue to learn who our true shepherd is, discern his voice in our lives, block out the other voices, and then follow Christ with devotion, even courage. He wants to, and he is able to, lead us into the verdant pastures spoken of by Psalm 23. He wants to, and he is able to, lead us beside restful waters where he refreshes our souls. He wants to, and he is able to, help us through the dark valleys we sometimes face; and he wants to, and he is able to spread the table before us — in the Eucharist we celebrate on earth and, eventually, in the banquet prepared for us in Heaven. He wants to be our shield, the source of our life, our Lord and our God.
Let us learn to hear the voice of Jesus, have the sense to ignore the dangerous voices that want to drown him out, and follow him with faith, hope, and love.
Have a blessed week everyone.
As requested above, on this World Day of Prayer for Vocations, please pray for God to call special vocations forth for his Church and for men and women to answer the call of the Good Shepherd to be his priests and others to be living signs of his poverty, chastity and obedience in consecrated religious life.