KNOW THE SHEPHERD’S VOICE
Several times in life we are called to explain the reason before our believe or the reason behind what we do as Christians. In the first reading Peter was confronted by some members of the church in Judea, regarding the Gentiles, that is, the uncircumcised who received the word of God. They wondered why these people, these outsiders, should received the Holy Spirit.
These “good church members” were not happy that the Gentiles have received the message of the gospel. Unfortunately, these members are still closed in within themselves, they have not yet opened to the works of the Spirit, to the new way, the mission of Jesus, who can to call sinners to repentance.
Peter took the time to explain to these angry church brethren how God in his mercy and love has offered to the Gentiles the same Holy Spirit they themselves received. As Peter puts it “If then God gave them the same grace, as to us also who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ; who was I, that could withstand God?”
The confused and doubting members of the church in Judea made a U-turn to give thanks to God who called the Gentiles to repentance. What a change of mind and heart?
“Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope,” (1 Peter 3: 25)
Like Peter in the first reading, we are called in the gospel to recognize the voice of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, from other voices that try to distract us. The Good Shepherd hears the voice of the sheep, so too, the sheep must hear the voice of the Shepherd.
We should be weary of anyone, or thing that want to place a wedge between us and the Good Shepherd. There are many voices, visible and invisible forces, and evil machinations what want to put a wedge between us and Jesus. These evil forces or voices must be rejected. They want us to believe that death is good, good is evil and evil is good. They want us to accept the seven deadly sins (pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth) as virtues.
Let us learn to differentiate the voice of Jesus from other voices. It is only in hearing the shepherd’s voice, can we turn and follow him when he calls. Recognizing and following the shepherd’s voice is our vocation, our call.
