Monday, April 22, 2024
Recognizing the voice of our God
An excerpt from John 10:3-4
The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.
Reflection from Cecelia Secor, St. Lawrence: Often God’s words come through loud and clear to me. Other times they are clouded by the issues of the world – politics, conflict, and meanness to name a few. The feelings of depression and inadequacy also sometimes trip me up...and they keep me trapped as if inside a wall. Bishop Michael Curry says, “If it is not about love, it is not about God.” This means I need to stay focused on the love. Recently at church we sang “you are the gate of all deliverance, we are sightless; lead us now” (Wonder, Love and Praise #746). It called me back to this passage. I need the Shepherd’s words of love to continually free me, lest I become trapped again in the place of darkness and isolation. Oh! Listen! I hear the Shepherd calling with words of love! Alleluia.
Photograph by Elizabeth Downey.
ADDITIONAL READINGS:
For further study and prayer, the readings assigned for today are:
• Psalm 96:1–9
• Acts 11:1–18
• John 10:1–10
MUSIC:
“The Lamb”
by John Taverner, sung by VOCES8
“Little lamb, who made thee? …
Little lamb, I’ll tell thee:
He is called by thy name,
For he calls himself a Lamb.”
Tags: Easter to Pentecost 2024