The Voice | April 19, 2016

April 19, 2016

My dear friend, Norah, moved to Connecticut about 28 years ago and she and I have kept in touch via snail mail for many of those years, and now mostly through texting. I’ve been writing to her since I was 18 years old and if she were to have saved all my letters, the collection of them might indeed make quite the telling autobiography. There is no doubt that I express myself most effectively, most authentically, most intimately, and most eloquently through writing. There are times, however, more recently and frequently than ever, when I simply need to hear Norah’s voice and writing or texting just doesn’t cut it, so I will pick up the phone and actually call. The split second that we hear each other is an anointed moment that literally melts the heart. Hearing someone’s voice, especially once they’ve been gone from your daily life is powerful and sometimes even breath taking.

My grandpa died around Thanksgiving and when we were decorating for Christmas that year we came across one of those ornaments that recorded a message. I remember pressing the button and hearing grandpa’s voice for the first time since he died actually dropped me to my knees. I felt his presence in the room with me immediately and I could even smell his cologne. One sound of his voice reunited our spirits. The senses are powerful ways for us to connect to one another.

Jesus talks about this in today’s gospel, “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” I often meditate on things like: What did Jesus’ voice sound like? Did he have an infectious laugh? When he sang in synagogue, did people get goose bumps? Was he a tenor or a baritone or a bass? Did he speak to the apostles differently and in more intimate tones than with the general population? Did his friends and disciples (and even his enemies) remember the sound of his voice after he died? What a special give that must have been to have known what their Savior sounded like, sang like, laughed like, cried like, whispered like. Obviously, we don’t have the same privilege of actually hearing him speak, but that does not mean that we are not his sheep and that we do know what he sounds like:

• ·      When a baby cries out
• ·      When a songbird calls
• ·      When your beloved tells you you’re beautiful
• ·      When your best friend laughs
• ·      When a room full of faithful hearts sing praise
• ·      When someone says, “I forgive you”
• ·      When a dear friend whispers a blessing in your ear
• ·      When the wind dances through the trees
• ·      When a wave caresses the shore
• ·      When your long lost friend picks up the phone

These tender listenings are The Voice of our Shepherd, gently drawing us into his embrace so that we can follow wherever he leads. Let’s pay attention to The Voice in our lives so that we can live this promise:

“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.

No one can take them out of my hand.

My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all,

and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand.  

The Father and I are one.”

Norah, I’m going to call sometime this week…FYI.

Reading 1 ACTS 11:19-26

Those who had been scattered by the persecution
that arose because of Stephen
went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch,
preaching the word to no one but Jews.
There were some Cypriots and Cyrenians among them, however,
who came to Antioch and began to speak to the Greeks as well,
proclaiming the Lord Jesus. 
The hand of the Lord was with them
and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. 
The news about them reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem,
and they sent Barnabas to go to Antioch.
When he arrived and saw the grace of God,
he rejoiced and encouraged them all
to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart,
for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith.
And a large number of people was added to the Lord. 
Then he went to Tarsus to look for Saul,
and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch. 
For a whole year they met with the Church
and taught a large number of people,
and it was in Antioch that the disciples
were first called Christians.

Responsorial Psalm PS 87:1B-3, 4-5, 6-7

R. (117:1a) All you nations, praise the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
His foundation upon the holy mountains
the LORD loves:
The gates of Zion,
more than any dwelling of Jacob.
Glorious things are said of you,
O city of God!
R. All you nations, praise the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I tell of Egypt and Babylon
among those who know the LORD;
Of Philistia, Tyre, Ethiopia:
“This man was born there.”
And of Zion they shall say:
“One and all were born in her;
And he who has established her
is the Most High LORD.”
R. All you nations, praise the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
They shall note, when the peoples are enrolled:
“This man was born there.”
And all shall sing, in their festive dance:
“My home is within you.”
R. All you nations, praise the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Alleluia JN 10:27

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel JN 10:22-30

The feast of the Dedication was taking place in Jerusalem.
It was winter. 
And Jesus walked about in the temple area on the Portico of Solomon. 
So the Jews gathered around him and said to him,
“How long are you going to keep us in suspense? 
If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 
Jesus answered them, “I told you and you do not believe.
The works I do in my Father’s name testify to me.
But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep.
My sheep hear my voice;
I know them, and they follow me. 
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. 
No one can take them out of my hand. 
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all,
and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand. 
The Father and I are one.”