The Fourth Sunday of Easter (Cycle B)

THE VOICE OF THE SHEPHERD

Acts 4:8-12; 1 John 3:1-2; John 10:11-18,27-30 

Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Tony Bennett: unmistakable voices whose sound, style and phrasing have the power to take us back to a time and to a place of first love . . . of romance . . . of heart break. Who can ever erase from their memory the commanding voice of FDR, the poetry and power in the voice of Martin Luther King, the trusted voice of Walter Cronkite on the evening news? There are just some voices you never forget.

Last year, I celebrated Christmas with my brother Bob and his family. After we had exchanged presents, my oldest niece, Kathleen, said, “Uncle Bruce, I have one more gift for you.” She then took out her laptop and sat next to me on the couch. She clicked on an audio file of an old cassette recording that she had transferred to her computer. It was a cassette that I made for her when she was ten years old to accompany a tape recorder I was giving her for Christmas. And so, as I listened, I was transported back thirty-three years to hear my youthful voice deejaying a selection of Christmas songs, narrating “The Night Before Christmas,” singing “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer with a Norwegian accent, and basically making a complete fool of myself! And as I heard my younger self signing off and wishing her a Merry Christmas, my somewhat maturer self said, “Kathleen, I can’t believe you kept that all these year!” Kathleen said, “Wait Uncle Bruce. It’s not finished.” And then I immediately recognized a voice that I hadn’t remembered was on that tape. A voice I hadn’t heard in sixteen and a half years. The sweet, loving voice of my mother. And after that, a voice I hadn’t heard in four years: the kind and gentle voice of my father. There are just some voices you never forget. 

If you noticed, this morning I extended the Gospel to include three lines also found in the tenth chapter of John’s Gospel (Please don’t tell the bishop!) But I wanted you to hear everything that Jesus had to say about himself when he calls himself the Good Shepherd. And I think those three lines are important to us.

Jesus says that his sheep hear his voice. “HEAR” not “heard.” Present tense not past. Christianity is a relationship, and every relationship is established and maintained through communication. And so we shouldn’t chalk up to fantasy, wishful thinking, or pious sentiment that God IS speaking to us, and we CAN hear His voice.

The fact is God is always speaking to us, but the problem is we aren’t always listening, or we aren’t quite sure how to listen. And the truth of the matter is, we can’t obey him or follow his lead unless we hear him—and we can’t hear him unless we understand how he speaks to us today. God is a pure spirit, and so we need to seek out, feel comfortable with, and accept the way that a spirit communicates: not with a human voice, but through some means outside of himself, adapted to our nature. He may use things we can see and hear in order to stir our imagination, or he may enter directly into our thoughts. 

But we’re like the prophet Elijah. We seek God’s voice in lightning bolts and claps of thunder, in the loud and the dramatic. Yes, God can shout, but as Elijah learned, God more often whispers. He’s heard in the subtle and the ordinary. God nudges us, guides us, answers us, through the still small voice of intuitions that come while we pray, while we meditate, while we dream . . . in thoughts that persist . . . in a sense of peace that fills us when we consider one option over others . . . and in the circumstances of our lives. The voice of the Shepherd comes to us in the truth of the Scriptures, the teachings of the church, the insights of the saints, and the advice that comes from others who follow his way. 

So if God is still speaking to us, why do we find it so difficult to hear his voice? There are many reasons. Sometimes we’re afraid to listen. We don’t want to hear what God has to say to us. We know that he may ask something of us that’s difficult to do or give. Instead of listening, we close our ears and pretend not to hear.

Sometimes we don’t hear God because we’re too busy putting our own needs ahead of everything else. Our desires to have more, and to be more, are often in direct conflict with what God desires for us. It’s difficult to hear his voice over own voices calling for more.

Most often, though, we simply don’t recognize God’s voice over the roar of life around us. Our world is noisy and demands so much of our time and energy. We're so focused on everything else that we fail to hear God’s gentle whispers in our lives. Often we're so busy and so consumed with everything around us that we miss him even when he's screaming our name, trying to get our attention.

And then there are many voices in our world, clamoring for our attention, making demands of us, extending promises to us. There are imitators, calling us down the wrong path. We’ve got to know how to tell the difference between the authentic voice of the Lord, and all of the other imitations out there. So, as you pray, as you listen, pay attention: 

+ If the voice you hear encourages you to trust, then it’s probably our Lord. If the voice you hear leads you to cynicism, then it is not. 

+ If the voice you hear calls you to be generous and self-transcending, then it’s from the God of Love. If it calls you to selfishness and self-centeredness, it’s an imposter.

+ If the voice you hear calls you to be faithful, to be true to your word, to keep your promises, it’s of God. If the voice invites you to break your promise and lie, it’s not of God. 

+ If your hear an invitation to spend more of your life focused on others, to measure your success by the difference you make in someone else’s life, it’s probably from the one who said, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” 

+If the voice you hear calls you to be a peacemaker, a justice-doer, a hope-giver, it’s from the same one who once said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, they will be called “Children of God.” 

+ If you hear an encouragement to treasure life, set aside angers, forgive and forgive some more, it’s from the one who said we need to forgive seventy times seven times and who, himself, looked down upon those that had just crucified him and forgave them. 

+ If the voice you hear tells you that you are deeply loved by the eternal God, if the voice you hear tells you that you have a dignity that no one can take away from you, if you hear a reminder that Jesus loved you so much that he was willing to die for you, then that voice is from the God of All Goodness. But if the voice you hear tells you that you’re not worth it, that there is no hope for you, it’s a lie from the Evil One.

“I am the Good Shepherd. My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” This week, let’s quiet our minds and open our hearts to hear God’s voice speaking to us. He longs to have meaningful conversations with us. We must decide to listen for His voice; if we don’t, we may miss the comfort, the inspiration, the encouragement God bestows upon us when He speaks intimately with us. This week, listen to that still small voice speaking to your mind and heart. You know the voice. There are just some voices you never forget.

Students' Stations of the Cross

I recently assigned my Eighth Grade students at St. Therese School to write meditations and prayers on the Stations of the Cross. Below are the ones I chose to present to the rest of the school for our Holy Thursday retreat day. What is presented here certainly shows, not only the talent of the students, but their deep sense of faith. I hope what these students wrote touches you as you pray them. 

The Station of the Cross

By the Eighth Grade Students

Of St. Therese School

The First Station: Jesus is Condemned to Death

Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.
All: Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

Reader: Did Pontius Pilate know that he was killing the Son of God? Does he know that he was killing our Savior? Pontius Pilate saw nothing wrong in Jesus, yet he handed him over to be crucified. He followed the words of his citizens instead of trusting his gut feeling of letting him go. Jesus was sentenced to death for teaching love and care. Nobody stood up and defended Jesus in his time of most need. (Sean Murphy)

Leader: Let us pray . . . 

All: Whenever we feel like something going on in our lives is unfair and we don’t understand it or accept it, help us to remember the selfless act Jesus did for us. Help us to remember always the cruelty he was faced with and how our problems, what we think is pain, are nothing compared to what Jesus went through. He was chosen to be condemned, and he responded that violence is never the answer. He didn’t fight back. Help us to remember that everything happens for a reason. When we feel like giving up, help us to remember that Jesus never gave up. Amen. (Taylor Rippon)

The Second Station: Jesus Takes Up His Cross

Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

All: Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

Reader: Jesus is handed his cross on which he will die. The cross is very heavy and immense. Every step he takes brings him a step closer to our hearts and God. Jesus was handed his cross with open arms and love, just like he will be when we go to heaven. When Jesus picks up his cross and starts to walk on the path and up the hill, he is showing us with his mercy and love the path to eternal life with him and his Father. Jesus was so selfless that, instead of being angry with the people who doubted him, he asked God to forgive them. (Bridget Doherty)

Leader: Let us pray . . . 

All: Lord, give me the courage and faith to accept my crosses. Send the Holy Spirit to guide me towards you and away from sin during difficult times. Help my faith to be at its strongest when I am faced with hardships. Jesus, when I am struggling, remind me of your great sacrifice. Remind me of the day you took up your cross for my sake. Remind me of your will. And remind me of the reward of eternal life given to those who act in your name. Amen. (Matthew Rose)

The Third Station: Jesus Falls the First Time

Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

All: Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

Reader:

Jesus falls, and he can’t get up alone

Someone helps Him get up, and he lets out a groan.

Mary cries out to help her tired, beaten son;

He keeps on moving, He knows it has to be done.

Despite the harsh treatment Jesus received,

He still made his trek up the hill of Calvery.

Jesus taught us that we could always persevere;

If we remember always to keep him near. (Olivia Guevara)

Leader: Let us pray . . . 

All: Jesus, help me always remember that you are here for me when I fall. Remind me that you, too, have fallen, and give me the strength to get back up. I know I may fall again, but you will always be there to help me get up again. Amen. (Olivia Greer)

The Fourth Station: Jesus Meets His Sorrowful Mother

Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

All: Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

Reader: Can you imagine yourself having to bear the weight of a splintering cross, while staring into your mother’s tearing eyes? As Mary slowly followed Jesus on the path to his death, she mourned and stumbled behind. All she wanted to do was help him carry his heavy load. When the guards allowed her to comfort him, she forgot about everyone else in the world, and poured her heart into Jesus’ hands. Her eyes, staring into his eyes, were already enough for Jesus. Jesus, tired and damp with perspiration, loved the touch of his mother’s hand on his, and he felt a sense of contentment as his mother followed in his footsteps. (Sarah Lawrence)

Leader: Let us pray . . . 

All: Jesus, help us to notice the people in our life who are willing to support and encourage us when we may be going through a difficult time in life. Help us to accept the help we are offered, so that we may realize there are people like you in our lives, and that they truly love and care for us. Please allow us to look to our parents for help when we are in need. Amen. (Olivia Guevara)

The Fifth Station: Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus Carry His Cross

Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

All: Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

Reader: In this station, Jesus’ shoulders become too weak to carry the weight of the cross and he is unable to proceed. The soldiers see this casual man, Simon of Cyrene, who seems strong and energetic. They snatch him, and force him to carry the cross on his own shoulders. Simon did not want to help Jesus when he was asked to, but he serves this man at the time of his greatest need. This reminds us that our acts of assistance hold a great amount of value in the Kingdom of God. (Dyanna DeMaria)

Leader: Let us pray . . . 

All: Lord, open our eyes and ears so that we may see when others need our help. Provide us with the resources to assist those around us, so that we may feel compelled to get out of our comfort zone to rescue those who suffer. Use our hands and feet to serve you each day. Amen. (Dyanna DeMaria)

The Sixth Station: Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus with Her Veil

Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

All: Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

Reader: Jesus’ fragile body cannot take all this humiliation and distress, and after falling twice, he is tired and weak. Yet he knows that he must open the Gates of Heaven for all of the souls in Purgatory, and so he gets up and pushes on. Wearing the crown of thorns, his face is covered with blood and sweat, and an innocent bystander known as Veronica sees Jesus’ face, and wipes it clean. To her surprise, Jesus leaves the imprint of his face upon the cloth. Jesus appreciates our little devotions to help the least of our brothers, for he said when we do that, we do it for him. Jesus wants us to help people in need, and those who are bearing a heavy load. He was grateful for people like Veronica who follow his example. We must be like her and assist innocent people that are in need of help. (Kayla Conde)

Leader: Let us pray . . . 

All: Jesus, when others refuse to acknowledge you, give me the grace to act as you would want me to. When others need help, let me go to them as Veronica did to you. Guide me along the path to you in Heaven, which Veronica walked along when she wiped your face. Amen. (Matthew Rose)

The Seventh Station: Jesus Falls the Second Time

Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

All: Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

Reader: Jesus had to carry that heavy cross with no one to help him. He is so tired and weak he can barely go on any further. So he falls once more. He feels every motion and move he makes with his body. He feels like giving up, but he keeps going on for us. When he falls to the ground, even though he is hurt and weak and feels like giving up, he doesn’t. We should be like Jesus when we feel like giving up, we too should keep on going, even when it hurts. (Eva Gergatsoulis)

Leader: Let us pray . . . 

All: Father, when I have struggles in my life, please help me to remember that I can get through them by praying to you and remembering that Jesus did the same, and that he struggled as we are struggling now. Amen. (Darya Don)

The Eighth Station: Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem

Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

All: Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

Reader: In this station, Jesus meets women who are crying for him. Even though suffering as he was, Jesus had in his heart to console these women and to show them true compassion. Their reaction to what was going on implied that they had very strong feelings about his punishment. There were crowds of people watching the crucifixion for entertainment, and crowds of people shouting bad things at Jesus. But this small group of women wept for him. (Olivia Greer)

Leader: Let us pray . . . 

All: Jesus, there are things in the world today that are wrong. There are people being killed for following you, and people who use it as a source of entertainment. Help me to always feel for others, even if I am not going through the same things they are. Amen. (Olivia Greer)

The Ninth Station: Jesus Falls the Third Time

Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

All: Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

Reader: Jesus falls for the third time on the road. It was getting harder for Jesus to carry his cross. It was growing heavier and heavier, but Jesus gets up and struggles to keep on going. His love for us was so great, and he knew that he had to die on the cross for us, so he gets up. He doesn’t quit. He keeps going on. (Darya Don)

Leader: Let us pray . . . 

All: Jesus, please help me to be a Good Samaritan and help people when they fall, not only physically, but also spiritually. If someone falls away from you or the Church, please help me to guide him or her back onto the path to eternal life with you in heaven. Also, please help me to never give up, just like you did on your journey to the cross. Amen. (Sarah Lawrence)

The Tenth Station: Jesus Is Stripped of His Clothes

Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

All: Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

Reader: As if he hadn’t been humiliated enough, Jesus is now stripped of his clothing. Clothing gives a man his privacy or his dignity. Not only has Jesus been beaten, but he must deal with being stripped of his clothes and being watched while the audience before him acts as if they were watching an entertaining show. This should be a lesson for us never to find amusement or entertainment in someone else’s pain or suffering. At the foot of the cross, the soldiers draw lots to divide his worthless possessions, his clothes. No shield or security protects him. As the soldiers and the people stare at him, Jesus stares up at heaven. (Enam Akasreki & Charlotte Matthews)

Leader: Let us pray . . . 

All: Father, when we feel embarrassed, help us to remember the humiliation that Jesus went through. Help us to be strong, as Jesus was, and to stand tall. Our Lord was put through a situation none of us can even imagine being in. Help us remember that Jesus didn’t run away or cower. He stood tall and did what he was meant to do, God’s plan for him, even after the humiliation, even after the pain. Help us to remember this at times of embarrassment. Amen. (Taylor Rippon)

The Eleventh Station: Jesus Is Nailed to the Cross

Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

All: Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

Reader: No words can describe the pain Jesus felt at this moment. It is beyond imagining having nails pounded into your hands. Jesus endured all the pain for the sake of us. He had an immense love for all of us as he went through all of his suffering and pain. He didn’t deserve this. When we are going through bad times, we might endure some unnecessary pain. But we must think of what Jesus had to go through, the agony he went through while on the cross, and realize that our conditions could be worse. (Marc Bain)

Leader: Let us pray . . . 

All: Jesus, when I am in pain, please help me to keep on going. Remind me to think of the pain you went through and see that my problems could be worse. And when I am struggling, please help me. Amen. (Marc Bain)

The Twelfth Station: Jesus Dies on the Cross

Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

All: Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

Reader: Jesus has walked to the site of the crucifixion wearing a crown of thorns and carrying the weight of the cross on his back. He has suffered through the pain of the nails being driven through his flesh and into the wooden cross on which he is crucified. Now, the suffering rises to its highest point as he approaches his death before all of his hardships come to an end. Jesus reaches the end of his journey to death and will soon return to his Heavenly Fathers. As Catholics, we choose to follow the path of Jesus to an eternal life. We must keep this idea with us at all times. We must remember to act as Jesus did in every aspect of our earthly life so that we may begin a new life with him after death. The only end brought upon Jesus at his death was the end of his suffering. (Matthew Rose)

Leader: Let us pray . . . 

All: Lord, guide me along your path so that I, too, may earn eternal life with you in Heaven. Help to keep my focus on the final results of my actions and not what they bring me here on Earth. Remind me in everything I do that you and your will alone are most important in gaining eternal life after death on Earth. Let all mourn for the loss of their loved ones, but rejoice that they are sharing eternal life with you. Amen. (Matthew Rose)

The Thirteenth Station: Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross

Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

All: Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

Reader: In this station, Jesus is taken down from the cross. Everyone sees him as dead now, never to return. His mother, Mary, can now see what has been done to her son for nothing but his teaching love. Those who followed Jesus saw that this had been a brutal and unjust way for him to die. Little did anyone know that they had not seen the last of him. (Olivia Greer)

Leader: Let us pray . . . 

All: Jesus, it seemed like you were gone after you died. It may feel like you are gone again sometimes if my prayers are not immediately answered or if things in my life are going wrong and I don’t know why. Help me remember you died for all humanity, and you are never actually away from us. Amen. (Olivia Greer)

The Fourteenth Station: The Body of Jesus is Buried in the Tomb

Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

All: Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

Reader: Jesus has suffered, died, and is now being buried. His lifeless body is placed within a tomb. All of the disbelievers are joyful at the end of Jesus’ journey, but the true joy he is to bring has not yet come. All of his disciples mourn at the last sight of his deceased body, but this lifeless state is only temporary for Jesus. Some have probably lost their hope in Jesus’ plan, as they now see him being laid behind a tremendous stone, wondering how he would save them now. But at times, God works in mysterious ways. It is important to know that each step in God’s plan is essential for its final outcome. 

We must act as disciples of Jesus. As he acted out God’s will through his Passion, we too must act as God would want us to. Jesus held on to his faith every step of his journey, knowing that it would not be God’s will for him to endure this suffering unless it brought about marvelous good. While it may seem that no good has come from it, since Jesus has truly died and is now seemingly being placed in his tomb for eternity, it is only a matter of time before God’s plan unfolds in the lives of his disciples. We must remember that God’s plan may not always make sense to us in its many forms, but knowing this helps us to keep our faith strong throughout the peaks and valleys of our lives. (Matthew Rose)

Leader: Let us pray . . . 

All: Lord, when your plan may seem to have disappointed our expectations, as it may have seemed to your followers who watched your Son being placed in the tomb, help us to know that your plan for us is unceasing in our lives. Keep in our minds the truth that you have a path for each of us. Help us remember that some of the obstacles you present to us hide nothing but blessings. (Matthew Rose)

The Fifteen Station: THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS

Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

All: Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

Reader: The Stations of the Cross are steps to Jesus’ death. Because of this, every one of them are devastating and difficult to listen to or watch. Unlike the others, the Resurrection is something that we, as Christians, look forward to. When Jesus was missing from the tomb, people were afraid. They thought that someone had stolen his body, but when they saw him proclaiming his Good News and praying with people, they were glad and relieved. It is the most amazing experience a person could ever observe. Jesus coming back to life was a shock to many people, but it also was a breathtaking moment in the history of humankind. Jesus not only saved us from sin, but he was an amazing role model to how we should live as Christians. (Sarah Lawrence)

Leader: Let us pray . . . 

All: Jesus, please help me to be a faithful Christian and a role model to people in my family, school and community. Please help me if I’m having hardships to remember what you have done for me. Each day help me make someone smile, and help me sacrifice something for someone. If I mess up, please help me “come back to life,” or help me get back onto my journey with God , just like Jesus did when he resurrected from the dead. Please help me keep these stations in my mind at all times so I can remember the sacrifice you made for us, especially if I am feeling ungrateful. Please help me ultimately become a better Christian throughout my life. Amen. (Sarah Lawrence)