An Invitation to Hear God

A n Invitation to Hear God

Today’s Gospel is an extension of the Good Shepherd passage, … and His sheep follow Him. In today’s readings there is an important message concerning the growth of the Church. In the early days of the Church, disciples like Saint Stephen were persecuted. People wanted to persecute Jesus’ followers and those that preach His teachings.

The Good Shepherd Always Protects His Flock

The crisis and difficulty Christians experienced, if we are not careful, can be perceived as the Good Shepherd not protecting and looking out for His flock. Now look at today’s crisis of the pandemic. Do you hear the same comments? The Lord appears to be not looking out for His flock in this time of crisis. Today, the flock is scattered; separated in our homes and unable to attend Mass. We are not able to be together as one flock. But look what happens next.

In the early Church’s persecution, the flock appears to scatter. The flock indeed does not scatter. The flock moves into other parts of the world and the Church begins to grow. The disciples travel across the world, and the Church continues to grow. The world thought it would stop the movement through the persecution. But the Lord had different plans, and indeed the Church grew across the world. The Lord, out of a difficult moment, brings the flock into areas where they can grow and multiply.

Throughout the history of the world we see often times that the Lord appears to be sleeping and not watching over His flock. Yet curiously, and wonderfully through these difficult situations the Church does not diminish. Rather, the Church increases. The shepherd provides for His flock even in difficult times.

Celebrate His Victory, Even In Difficult Times

In the opening prayer of the Mass, we pray and celebrate the victory of the Lord over death and sin. We must always celebrate His victory, even through difficult worldly times. Celebrate His victory always because in doing so it means our salvation as well. The point of celebrating His victory over death and sin is to make our hearts more worthy vessels of the joy of salvation.

The greatness of the early disciples and the Apostles is they never lost sight of this victory. Facing great difficulty, they did not see defeat. Rather, the disciples saw His victory and His Glory. Our Lord gave His flock the ability to triumph over difficulty and to overcome it. A lesson we need to strive to learn in today’s world.

Today the pandemic creates great difficulty in the world. We cannot be together. The pandemic has scattered us (in a sense) physically. But in your home, how does the Church need to grow? In our neighborhoods, how does the Church need to grow? Perhaps we should not spend time thinking about what “normalcy” will be in the future, when restrictions are lifted. Rather, we should think how our faith will express and assert itself in our neighborhoods once the restrictions are lifted. Think how will the flock begin to increase.

Listen to the Shepherd’s Voice

The shepherd still leads us. We are one flock and the Good Shepherd still cares for His flock. Over these weeks, how much time have we spent listening for the voice of the Lord? Not just in prayer, but engaging Him in the Word of the Lord, His Scriptures? He continues to speak to us. But, He insists we listen. And we listen so we can come to know His voice. To know the voice of the Good Shepherd, it implies we know Him. Familiarity doesn’t come in a moment. It comes over time.

In the Gospel we hear people asking the Lord to get to the point and directly answer the question. The Lord doesn’t just get to a point as they desired. Why? Because He knows if he makes one point, people will stop listening and go off on their own. He talks to us through the stories within scripture. He intertwines direct statements with so much more.

Hear His Voice

The scripture is written so that its message is not always apparent on the first reading. Therefore, it requires us to meditate and keep listening, and appreciate these words. A wonderful gift we all have as we further know the Lord. It is the way to help us understand the voice of the Good Shepherd. My sheep hear My voice.

As we make our Spiritual Communion today (and in the future, when we again make Sacramental Communion), when we behold the Lamb of God, ask Him to speak and promise Him that you will listen. Make it a point to take time with the sacred scripture and pray to Him to speak Lord, your servant is listening. In doing so you will Hear God speak to you. Hear more in this audio on what to do with this special invitation to learn the voice of the Good Shepherd.

An Invitation to Hear God