Today’s redings do not speak of mighty warships, but take us rather to the other extreme – towards a flock of frail sheep. No single image can convey all that Jesus means to us. As the first reading makes clear, this Good Shepherd of ours who was crucified is Lord and Christ; He is the long-awaited Messiah; He is God in our midst. He is not only our shepherd, says the Gospel, but the gateway that leads to life in all its fullness. “Listening” is a favorite word in St. John’s Gospel: it appears more than 50 times. Today’s reading very appropriate draws our attention to the way in which sheep listen for the voice of their shepherd; and then, they “hear” it, are ready to respond. We live in a world where many alluring voices are raised, where it’s so easy to hear and be swayed by what the Gospel calls “the voice of strangers” – the powerful voices of the media, of politicians, of celebrities, of our own peer group, even when they promote ideas and aspirations that are quite contrary to those of our Shepherd. Today we are invited once again to listen carefully for the voice of our Good Shepherd: on the one hand, not allowing it to be drawned out by other voices; on the other, recognizing that it is to be heard in many, and even in some unlikely situations.
St. John the Baptist PNCC
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