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Not only is today the 4th Sunday of Easter, but it is also Mother’s Day. So, before beginning the homily, I’d like to wish all moms here today a very happy Mother’s Day. Thank you to all of you who have brought forth and nurtured new life with generous hearts, for which we are eternally grateful. I cannot imagine what my life would be like without my mom and continually realize how much trouble she kept me out of. I hope you all enjoy a wonderful and well-deserved Mother’s Day.
Remembering all that our moms have done for us, reminds us also how much we learned and received from the sound of her voice. Imagine everything we would have missed out on if her words were conveyed only by typing or texting, without tone or context. It’s amazing what you can know and feel instantly when you hear the voice of someone you love. Immediately you can tell if they are ok or not, whether they are having a bad day or just got great news, whether they are scared, sick or distracted. Even if their words say something different, it's their voice that expresses the truth. And how wonderful it is to hear the voice of your friend or beloved family member unexpectedly. An instant smile crosses your face without even trying! Unless you were doing something you shouldn’t have been, like so many times growing up when my mom said something like, “what’s in your hand?” as we were trying to smuggle food from the pantry to our room. Or your parents lowered their voice, addressed you with your full name, and issued a firm command. Immediately our ears works perfectly and we know to stop messing around.
In our time, we encounter many words, electronically and in print, which lack a clear voice. We’ve all had the experience of reading an email or text and taking it the wrong way. The words on the screen come across as angry, judgmental, outraged, dismissive, sarcastic, accusatory, passive-aggressive, or any number of other offensive tones and they set off a response that only escalates the situation. Sometimes, it’s not until we pick up the phone and call the other person or talk face-to-face, that things get straightened out. Many times, I’ve gotten a text, an email, and been confused, offended, hurt or angry ultimately for no reason. Why? Because I couldn’t hear the other person’s voice and their disembodied words lost a certain level of context and nuance. How many words and phrases in our speech can be either happy, encouraging, loving, and kind or also bitter, hurtful, sarcastic, and angry…all depending on tone, inflection, and volume. Words without a human voice lose something of their power and clarity.
In our gospel today, Jesus says, "My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” How blessed we are to have a God who not only gives us words but has a voice to convey them! This notion of the shepherd's voice is extremely important. In ancient times, sheep remained with their shepherd their entire lives, from the moment of their birth until their last breath. Understandably, there was a close bond that existed between sheep and shepherd. As a matter of fact, most shepherds would name their sheep and all shepherds had a certain call or song the sheep knew. This call or song was the crucial bond between sheep and shepherd; Oftentimes, because places of pasture and shelter were scarce and hard to find, several flocks would intermingle while feeding or seeking shelter. However, when it was time to sort out the sheep, one of the shepherds would stand away from the group and make the particular call, which his sheep knew. As the sheep of his flock heard him, they would run to him, leaving behind the other shepherd with his sheep who refused to come to the first shepherd because they did not know his voice.
In a perfect world, every Christian who belongs to Christ's flock would recognize his voice and follow after him. In reality, how much easier might it be for me NOT TO KNOW the voice of Jesus when he speaks to me? There are so many other voices that are louder and bolder to distract us. I am ashamed to admit how many more hours I give to my favorite podcasts, shows, and frivolous conversations while skimping on prayer. Consider the Bible! How many of us know what it says? How many of us prayerfully read it on a regular basis? Aside from here at Mass, how many of us have actually read it more than once in the last week? Or the last month? This is one of the primary ways we stay in contact with the shepherd; they are his Words. If we do not often pray with the Scriptures, especially the four gospels, do we really know the voice of our shepherd?
How many of us actually prayed to God at least once a day, every day last week? Did we dare to do so with our own words? How many of us, when we thought to pray; when we thought to talk to God and bring our requests; thought also to listen to God? How many of us actually took the time to quiet our hearts and minds to listen for a message: a word, a thought, an impulse from the heart of the living God?
I hope that most of us can say that we listen to his voice in the Word of God, the teaching of the Church, the sacraments and personal prayer. But does that make us one of his sheep? Not quite! It doesn't until we actually respond to His voice, until we actually try to do what the shepherd is calling us to do, until we actually follow the one who is speaking.
Friends, in the eyes of God, each one of us has a place within his flock. God is calling out to us. God is searching for us. God is asking us to come to Him, to listen to Him, and to enter his fold to be sheltered and made safe with the rest of the sheep. He wants us to be safe from robbers and thieves; safe from the evil one who would have us live in darkness and despair.
There are so many other voices calling out to us in the world today. There are many other shepherds who invite us to follow them and promise us some pretty attractive things. Most of them stress that we don’t have to suffer or sacrifice, that we can be our own gods over nature, life, morality, or sexuality. But their voice doesn’t ultimately lead us to joy or peace or safety.
The Good Shepherd never gets tired or discouraged. He never gives up on anyone. He is forever calling out to us in the scriptures, the sacraments, the teachings of the Church, in our conscience, and in the love and compassion of other people. His voice is all around us if we choose to listen and ignore the calls of the many false shepherds. He wants to bless, nourish, protect, and guide each and every one of us. I hope all of us can come to know his voice as well we do our friends, family, and loved ones. And I hope when you hear it, whether here at Mass, in prayer with the Scriptures, or in the bustle of everyday life, it brings a sense of joy, peace, and security to your heart and soul!
