# Listen to his voice
*2016-02-27*

> Reflecting on the readings for Friday of the second week of Lent, Bill Young explores the intimate relationship between Christ the Good Shepherd and his followers.

## The Good Shepherd

Today we are reading from 'Renew Our Hearts: A Personal Invitation to Lenten Conversion' by Pope Francis. The focus is on the words of Jesus in John 10:14-15: 'I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me, just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father.' Jesus wants to establish a relationship with us that mirrors his own relationship with the Father—a relationship defined by practical belonging, full trust, and intimate communication.

## Recognizing the Voice

To express this friendship, Jesus uses the image of a shepherd and his sheep. The sheep recognize his voice, respond to his call, and follow him. The mystery of the voice is evocative; through the tone of a voice, we can perceive love or contempt, affection or coldness. Jesus' voice is unique. If we learn to distinguish it, it provides us with the path of life that goes beyond the abyss of death.

## The Call of Vocation

If I feel drawn to Jesus or if his voice warms my heart, it is thanks to God the Father, who has sown within me the desire for love, truth, life, and beauty. Jesus is the fullness of all these things. This helps us understand the mystery of vocation. Sometimes Jesus calls us and invites us to follow him, but perhaps we don't realize it is he who is calling. You may have heard the Lord's voice within a specific desire or a worry, inviting you to follow him more closely.

*Jesus, help me listen more attentively to your voice calling me to follow you.*