This Sunday is the Fourth Sunday of Easter. The gospel comes from the book of John 10:27-30. This week, we have a short reading packed with God’s love and wisdom.
Fourth Sunday of Easter
Jesus said:
“My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hands. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”
The line that stands out to me is the first line:
“My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”
How true is that! We hear God’s voice and follow Him. As Catholics, we believe God is in everything and is constantly at work within us. He speaks to us in many ways. During my formation to become a Spiritual Director, I learned one critical concept:
“God will use ANY means at ANY time to communicate and guide us!”
What does that mean? It means God uses everything to interact with us. His “voice” could be an actual voice, God speaking through someone else, a feeling, a thought, etc. We must be open to how God can come to us. How can we “hear” God’s voice? Here are just a few examples:
- Hearing that voice in the back of your head, or having someone say something that you need at that moment
- It could be a feeling you have, sometimes joyous or peaceful, and other times it may feel uncomfortable or that something isn’t quite right
- Have you ever had someone come into your life at the exact time you needed them or offer to help you with a troubling situation?
Be open to where the Spirit wants to lead you. Knowing God’s presence and activity in your life will help you to understand God’s call and experience the peace only Jesus gives us.
Jesus Speaks of Trust
The gospel calls us to trust in God. We know the Shepherd, hear His voice, and find rest and care with Him. He gives us eternal life. We will never perish. These promises from God resonate deeply within us, offering at times a profound calm and unwavering reassurance. The image I have after reading Psalm 23 reflects God’s love, protection, His peace, and an eternal existence.
I invite you to share your insights on this article in the “Comments” section.
Peace
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