Do You Hear What I Hear

Jesus said:
“I am the good shepherd.
A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
A hired man, who is not a shepherd
and whose sheep are not his own,
sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away,
and the wolf catches and scatters them.
This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd,
and I know mine and mine know me,
just as the Father knows me and I know the Father;
and I will lay down my life for the sheep.
I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold.
These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice,
and there will be one flock, one shepherd.
This is why the Father loves me,
because I lay down my life in order to take it up again.
No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own.
I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again.
This command I have received from my Father.”
John 10:11-18 (NAB)

Prayer Reflection

Dear Father there is much truth to these words spoken by Jesus. It speaks of us in our time as well as two thousand years ago. Yesterday's reading touched upon the gate and listening, today we find how much love Jesus has for us. He gave up his life! The act of love for you dear Father and love for us. Don't we say this to those we love also, that we would die for them. And there are many that would, we have martyrs that did exactly the same, gave their life for Jesus and for us as well. It's possible they were put to the test and answered correctly. Would any of us be able to answer this as well, or is our love superficial. After all, we all say we are God's children and that we all love Jesus, but when he calls us, do we really hear his voice and truly know him. How well do we listen to the Word of God being spoken at our Masses or is our thoughts off on what has to get done when we go home or of the many other things that preoccupy our minds from this world. Is our love more for this world then rather than Jesus and you dear Father? Jesus' love is so great to come in search of those who belong and lost their way. We are one big family why aren't we also helping each other find their way back too.

Hearing the Word of God

And it came to pass, as he spoke these things, a certain woman from the crowd, lifting up her voice, said to him: Blessed is the womb that bore thee, and the paps that gave thee suck. But he said: Yea rather, blessed are they who hear the word of God, and keep it.
Luke 11:27-28 (Douay-Rheims)

Prayer

Dear Father how I look forward to the Mass where I can hear your Word spoken through your Priests. How blessed we all are to hear and listen to the Word of God spoken to us. But as I pondered this I came to realize the truth of what Jesus spoke of. How often at times words would touch my heart, not really knowing the reason for it. When I looked back at the many times it would happen, I have to understand how blessed I was at those times. And to think how many of us in Church may have felt the touch of your Word and not realized this truth. Yet today, it dawned loud and clear upon my heart how truly blind we are when it comes to you. Or for a better word, stubborn is one I know I can be when I find I have failed in understanding. But I now know the reason for it and the timing of it. As with the words we hear when we gather together, how often we put them aside without thought to it's significance. Until much later when light is shed upon it. Dear Father I pray to listen with a more attentive ear and a more receptive heart for the love and grace you give. May I praise you for all that you do to let me see and hear the Word. Amen

The Word

And his mother and brethren came unto him; and they could not come at him for the crowd. And it was told him: Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee.

Who answering, said to them: My mother and my brethren are they who hear the word of God, and do it.
Luke 8:19-21 (Douay-Rheims)

Prayer

Dear Father it is wonderful to be part of your family as a child of yours. To know that hearing the Word of God and living it brought me closer to you. Our mother Mary knew this that day when Jesus was surrounded by so many and could not see her son. But her faith in you dear Father as with all of us who do your will are yours. And to think it is your Word that we must hear to be Jesus' sister, brother and mother. How simple is that, yet so difficult for us to live it as well. May I hear your Word and bring it to life in my daily life, that I give love to those around me as you give love to me. Amen