HEAR THE VOICE OF THE LORD

We are in the fourth Sunday of the Easter. The readings of today are very apt to our present situation, especially the Gospel taken from John 10:1-10 serves as answers to all the queries that have been rising in hearts from this crisis. The second reading taken from 1 Peter 2:20-25 begins like these “For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if, when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God” (1 Pt 2:20). When we do something wrong and get punished for doing that, there is nothing to surprise nor can we claim the punishment as an injustice. We have to accept the punishment and in most of the occasions we have done so. What if, when we do something good and get punished for that? This is injustice. We have every right to claim for that injustice. But St. Peter encourages us to endure them patiently, because Jesus endured injustice that is done to him patiently. He committed no sin yet he accepted the punishment on the cross. Why? To set an example for us to follow (1 Pt 2:21). He did not threaten, nor utter a word against the injustice that is done to Him, He entrusted Himself to Him who judges righteously (1 Pt 2:23). During this covid-19 pandemic we do make judgments like, why the humanity has to suffer without any reason? Why are we to face this deadly virus, though we are not the cause for it? Let us find answers for these.

Jesus did not teach us any magic to change the situations according to our needs and overcome the crises in our life. Rather, he showed us how to change ourselves according to given situations. He taught us how to respond to the crises. Jesus, the son of God did not come to us with His Divine Glory and Power. He came into the world as a normal human being just like any one of us. He adopted Himself to the human nature and underwent all that we go through in our life.

The suffering is part of our life. We have to undergo them. But sufferings do not go in vain. Jesus promised us that there is a reward in heaven for every suffering and injustice that we undergo in this earthly life. Instead of looking for justice in this suffering let us hope that there is a reward for us in heaven because we are undergoing suffering which we don’t deserve. Jesus is our hope. Jesus did not deserve the death on the cross. Yet, He underwent that suffering and gained resurrection as a reward. Traditionally this Sunday is celebrated as Good Shepherd Sunday. Let us follow our shepherd’s example. In the Gospel Jesus says that ‘the Shepherd goes before the sheep, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. But they will not follow the stranger, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers’ (Jn 10:4-5). In order to understand the present crisis in a better manner we need to know and hear the His voice as the sheep know the voice of the shepherd. To overcome this catastrophic situation we need to follow in His footsteps as the sheep follow the footsteps of the shepherd.

The only difference between the sheep and human being is that the sheep run away from the stranger, but we are fascinated by the devil. The sheep don’t recognize the voice of the stranger, but we are attracted by the voice of the devil. So we often become strayed sheep. We need to return to the shepherd and the guardian of our souls (1 Pt 2:25). For this let us repent for our misconceptions, misunderstandings, misjudgement about this disaster and believe in Christ Jesus, the good shepherd who promises us that goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our life (Ps 23:6). As the psalmist by placing our trust in Him we can say that “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me” (Ps 23:4). As a reward He will fill us with the gifts of Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38) who will enlighten us to understand the situation. The Holy Spirit will give us wisdom to respond to this situation in a better manner. Let us not listen to the voice of the devil. Let us HEAR voice of the Lord and RECEIVE the Holy Spirit.