What Do You Hear?

A Reflection on the Gospel for May 3rd, 2020:
Fourth Sunday of Easter

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John 10.1-10

Jesus said: “Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.”

Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

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Pause. Pray.

And then read more...

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Shhhh. Listen.


What do you hear? Depending on where you are as you read these words, there’s a whole myriad of things you could hear: children playing, the hum of “white noise”, a keyboard tapping, a kettle whistling, traffic, your upstairs neighbours, your phone buzzing, a radio, the tv. Every minute of the day you hear a multitude of “voices”. Is the Shepherd’s voice one of them?


I’ve come to learn that I need to listen so that I can be heard. Huh? If I’m listening then I’m not talking, right? Right. If you’re listening, you’re not talking. Stay with me. When I truly listen, all the distractions that surround me become less of a distraction; the “voices” actually tell me how I see the world around me. Children’s laughter equals joy, a deep sigh signals anguish, silence reveals loneliness, the lightness of a song triggers a memory. How I hear what is around me impacts how I think, act, and speak. I listen so that I can be heard. But right now it’s hard to hear. There are pandemic protocols to abide by. There is grief to process resulting from the devastating, senseless loss of life. There are the responsibilities of working from home—or not working—during a crisis. There are so many voices.

So.

Many.

Is the Shepherd’s voice one of them?


I need to hear the Shepherd’s voice. It is not always the loudest but when I take the time to truly listen to what is going on around me I can discern that still and sometimes quiet Voice that encourages and strengthens my own voice to think, act, and speak, with hope, kindness, and love. This is a way of life that Christ spoke of when He was with us and continues to speak through His followers now. Today the Shepherd is calling my name, leading me forward, calling me toward life, not death. But do I listen? I might hear Him, but do I take the time to listen. Lately, the answer is no. Maybe I am too tired or have become indifferent to the circumstances or am sacred of what I might hear. There are so many voices around me (and inside my own head) that I lump the Shepherd’s voice into the many and become overwhelmed by them all.


As a follower of Christ, though, I can be certain that I do not face those voices alone. The Shepherd leads me. I must have the faith to hear the familiar Voice calling my name; waiting for me to follow. I can’t let the other voices steal the life that Christ leads me to because it is a life that is mine, made for me to witness the goodness of His love. The Shepherd wants me to echo His voice telling us that we are loved, not alone, and that Christ’s voice is the only one we need to hear.


When the voices overwhelm…


Shhh. Listen.


Is the Shepherd’s voice one of them?




Aurea Sadi

Photo by Hayes Potter on Unsplash

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