distinguishing between voices

The Shepherd that is Good…

In the Gospel passage for the Foruth Sunday of Easter (John 10:1-10) it is written:

Jesus said:
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate
but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber.
But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice,
as the shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
When he has driven out all his own,
he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him,
because they recognize his voice.
But they will not follow a stranger;
they will run away from him,
because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.”
Although Jesus used this figure of speech,
the Pharisees did not realize what he was trying to tell them.

So Jesus said again, “Amen, amen, I say to you,
I am the gate for the sheep.
All who came before me are thieves and robbers,
but the sheep did not listen to them.
I am the gate.
Whoever enters through me will be saved,
and will come in and go out and find pasture.
A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy;
I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”

The thief and robber, thinking themself clever, sneaks their way in. They side-step or going over or around the gate, and sometimes even appear to be the gatekeeper. However, Jesus says, though they may get in, they are still a thief and robber, and the sheep will not be fooled by them.

How do you invite the Lord, the Good Shepherd, to help you discern the differences between His voice and that of the stranger who robs and steals?

Take some time to contemplate a situation that might be weighing you down? What might there be that is being robbed or stolen from you when it comes to this? Pray to the Lord for insight and wisdom so that His voice can be stronger or more clear, having greater influence on you and your response to the situation.

In what ways does the Lord want you to have life more abundantly?

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. – Psalm 23:1

At First, Listen…

First there was one deer, nibbling on a nearby plant. Then surveying the yard, another on the other side. Finally, there appeared two more, subtly joining in from the woods behind. Gently they made their way around the yard, pausing at the slightest of noises to look around and assess their surroundings, their sense of being too. Discerning between the sights and sounds their eyes and ears receive, responding in ways both wise and worthy. Standing still in the face of sounds both soft and firm, but kind, while retreating from those loud and harsh, and well, unbridled. Their awareness so keen, their dignity unwavering, and their presence so peaceful. Life listening and living Life at its fullest—Spirit meeting spirit, Spirit leading spirit.

How do you receive and listen to the noises around you and across the world? How or by what are your reactions and responses inspired?

Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the Lord
where the ark of God was.
The Lord called to Samuel, who answered, “Here I am.”
Samuel ran to Eli and said, “Here I am. You called me.”
“I did not call you,” Eli said. “Go back to sleep.”
So he went back to sleep.
Again the Lord called Samuel, who rose and went to Eli.
“Here I am,” he said. “You called me.”
But Eli answered, “I did not call you, my son. Go back to sleep.”

At that time Samuel was not familiar with the Lord,
because the Lord had not revealed anything to him as yet.
The Lord called Samuel again, for the third time.
Getting up and going to Eli, he said, “Here I am. You called me.”
Then Eli understood that the Lord was calling the youth.
So he said to Samuel, “Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply,
Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”
When Samuel went to sleep in his place,
the Lord came and revealed his presence,
calling out as before, “Samuel, Samuel!”
Samuel answered, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

Samuel grew up, and the Lord was with him,
not permitting any word of his to be without effect. – 1 Samuel 3:3b-10, 19