Voice recognition

The story is told about a man who had no ears. He felt sad that everyone he met would tell him that he had no ears. One day, he met another man who, to his delight, did not say anything about the absence of his ears. But the man told him that he must be using contact lenses. When he asked how the man could have guessed it, the man’s response was: “You cannot wear eyeglasses. You have no ears!”

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In today’s Gospel (Jn. 10, 1-10), Jesus tells us of the importance of ears, and of voice recognition. The sheep hear the voice of the Shepherd, recognize His voice, and follow Him. May we continue to hear and recognize, and follow the voice of our Master as He leads us from darkness into light.

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Today is Good Shepherd Sunday. A good shepherd has ears and listens to the sheep, knows them by name, walks ahead of them, and leads them. Parents, government officials, Church workers, and all other people doing any kind of shepherding or leadership, would do well to reflect today: Am I a good or a bad shepherd?

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Speaking of ears, there is a story about a child who was born minus one ear. She went through the untold pain of being ridiculed and laughed at during her growing years. Her mother felt her daughter’s pain deeply. On the daughter’s 18th birthday, the mother arranged for an ear transplant, which was successful and brought light to her dark and lonely world. At the end of the story, as the daughter was embracing her mother tightly, she found out that it was her mother who had donated the ear to her. In tears, she asked for forgiveness, saying: “I never knew how much you have loved me and sacrificed for me, and all these years I often disobeyed you, answered back and shouted at you…”

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Happy Mother’s Day! Thank you, Lord, for our mothers—true shepherds of our bodies and our souls. Only God knows what our mothers went through to bring us into this world, and the sacrifices they made in raising us.

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Mama is no longer with us this Mother’s Day but her love and the beautiful memories and life lessons remain with us. Just to see a picture showing her smiling is such a comfort. Her smile is an assurance of her presence with us still, and a reminder to live life to the fullest, until our date with her in heaven.

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Mama was a mother to so many other people. Aside from family members, many people visit her resting place, offering flowers and prayers. She had a way of making every person feel loved and special. She was not only humble and prayerful but also thoughtful, generous and kind. One of a kind!

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Today, Good Shepherd Sunday, let us praise and thank God for giving us a truly good shepherd in the person of Pope Francis.  He is a shepherd who has ears that listen, a heart that cares, and a mind that is focused and clear. On top of all these, we have a good shepherd who is simple, humble and joyful! Simplicity, humility, and joy—these are traits we need to bring back to the Church. If we become comfortable, arrogant and cold, we will eventually become irrelevant, especially to the young.

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Today is also World Day of Prayer for Vocations. We pray that the Lord of the harvest will send us men and women for the priestly, religious and consecrated life. We pray not so much in terms of quantity as quality.

Sharing with you my ordination prayer: “You have called me, O Lord, not so much because of me, but in spite of me, not so much to become a somebody but to be a someone to you and to your people. Keep me, O Lord, ever in your love. Amen.”

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All of us have a vocation, a calling. May we be true to our calling, and may we persevere till the end. The fulfillment of our calling is not so much a matter of greatness as faithfulness. What matters most is that we did it all with love.

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Our government leaders and officials must have ears and must listen to what our people are saying. Our people are tired and angry. Enough of cheating, stealing, and manipulations. Government leaders and officials better listen well and hard. Our people are not stupid. They can only take so much.

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In good times and bad times, we must listen to God so that we will not lose our way. “Be still, and know that I am God” (PS. 46-10). People who are blessed can get so caught up in their success and achievements and become proud if they do not listen to God. Likewise, people who go through trials of any sort can become discouraged or give up if they do not listen to God.

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Think about this: “Prayer is the most powerful shield against danger; the most effective medicine against sickness; the most valuable gift we can give to others.”

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A moment with the Lord:

Lord, may I recognize Your voice as You speak to me at every moment of my life. Amen.