Forever Held

A Reflection on the Gospel for Sunday, May 11th, 2025:
Fourth Sunday of Easter

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John
10:27-30

Jesus said: “My sheep hear My voice. I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of My hand. What my Father has given Me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

“My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me…”

Have you ever felt like you're being pulled in a dozen directions at once? The laundry's piling up, texts are unanswered, your to-do list is a mile long—and in the middle of it all, someone asks, “How are you?” and you don’t even know how to answer. Just… tired?

Today’s Gospel speaks right into that space. Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”

He knows us. Not in a distant, formal way—but intimately. He knows your heart, your worries, your longings, your exhausted prayers whispered over a kitchen sink or steering wheel. And He isn’t waiting for you to have it all together before you come to Him. He’s already speaking. The question is: do we recognize His voice in the noise?

This passage isn’t about achieving some perfect level of holiness. It’s about trust. It's about following the One who calls you by name and promises that no one can snatch you from His hand. Not your past, not your fear, not even your own doubts.

Maybe today, following His voice looks like choosing to rest when you feel pressure to keep pushing. Maybe it’s reaching out to someone you’ve been meaning to check on. Or maybe it’s simply pausing to remember: I belong to Jesus. I am not alone.

The Gospel ends with these words: “The Father and I are one.” In Jesus, we are not only loved—we are held by the very heart of God. That truth doesn’t take away the chaos of life, but it gives us something firm to stand on in the middle of it.

You are known. You are seen. You are safe in His hands.




Theresa Langley

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