May 11, 2025
4th Sunday
Easter
FOCUS: Can we hear Christ’s voice speaking to us today?
Can we hear Christ’s voice speaking to us today? Or are we like those who, recognizing God’s intention to gather the whole world into his fold, were filled with jealousy and deaf to the Good News? We may have moments where we can hear, and moments where distractions deafen us to our shepherd’s voice. Let us pray for new hearts and open ears to follow Christ.
What's in Your Heart
Think about how you relate to the great themes of today’s readings—hearing, accepting, and following the word of God; being in God’s hands; sometimes suffering to be a Christian—and how you can help others enter more deeply into these realities:
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Who are the people in my life through whom I hear and believe the Good News?
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Where do I especially hear the voice of Jesus? How does that voice challenge me to follow it?
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How does God shepherd me?
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Do I feel myself to be in God’s hands? How does my faith strengthen me to face the difficulties of living a Christian vocation?
Homily Stories
A friend was talking about a time she was sorely tempted toward revenge. A person at work had hurt her and now it was in her power to turn the tables. She found out something about this co-worker that would have deeply embarrassed the woman, and my friend savored the possibility of spreading the news.
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Then she heard her grandmother’s voice. Her grandmother had been her spiritual hero, and even though the elderly woman had died years ago, my friend often heard her words echoing in her heart. Today she heard, “Revenge spills on everyone—including the one who dishes it out.” It made her pause, and she reconsidered. Reluctantly she came to the conclusion that the right thing to do was to just keep quiet and let this chance for sweet revenge pass by.
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We all hear voices in our heads. Some people call it the “committee.” And we’re influenced by the voices we hear. Parents hope their children will hear parental voices in their consciences loud and clear when they’re tempted to take crazy chances or stray from the right path. Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice; I know them and they follow me.” With all the noise going on in the world it can take consistent effort to hear the voice of Jesus. Why not begin your morning with this prayer: “Jesus, help me to hear your voice.” And then just sit and listen.
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Quotes
A shepherd who is not meek is not a good shepherd. He has something hidden, because meekness shows him as he is ... furthermore, the shepherd is tender ... knows the sheep one by one by name and takes care of each one as if it were the only one.
—Pope Francis, March 5, 2020 homily