“My sheep hear my voice,” says Jesus. Innumerable voices clamor to get into our heads, but one voice gets to our heart. Like a lost child who hears mother’s reassuring voice, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them.”
“Almighty God, merciful Father, since You have wakened from death the Shepherd of Your sheep, grant us Your Holy Spirit that when we hear the voice of our Shepherd, we may know Him who calls us each by name and follow where He leads…” He’s leading us to heaven, which puts a different perspective on the troubles of today. “They are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
“The King of love my shepherd is, / Whose goodness faileth never; / I nothing lack if I am His / And He is mine forever.” I nothing lack? The clamoring voices tell us we lack this, we lack that, buy this, fight for that, but has anything of this world given you the peace that passes all understanding? “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” Is there any situation in life, as dire it may be, that does not receive peace from hearing the Shepherd’s words?
It was a happy coincidence, Good Shepherd Sunday and Mother’s Day. Both observances were an invitation to silence. Silence is a prerequisite to letting Jesus calm our troubled hearts. “In quietness and trust shall be your strength.” “As with a mother’s tender hand, He leads His own, His chosen band: To God all praise and glory!”
(References: John 10:27; Collect for Easter IV; Revelation 7:15-17; LSB 709:1; Philippians 4:7; John 14:27; LSB 819:4)
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