Recognize a voice

Wednesday August 18, 2021

Recognize a voice

The sheep follow him because they know his voice. John 10.4

In my childhood, there was a pig keeper in the village. Every day he walked through every street announcing himself with a trumpet. He stopped in front of each farm as the pigs exited the pigsties. Little by little the herd grew bigger and he led it into the nearby forest in search of acorns and other food. He knew them all and called them by the name of their owner. On the way back, the herd would stop whenever they called out, and the pigs would join their owners on their farms. The guardian was not mistaken, neither were the animals.

Still in my childhood, I also admired Pierre the goatherd from Heidi's story. The goats recognized him and knew him each by name.

In today's text, Jesus claims to be the Shepherd of the sheep : he knows each one by name and they recognize his voice. I have no trouble believing that Jesus knows us by name because he is God. But how can I be sure that I recognize my shepherd's voice ? Among all the opinions, literature, speeches, how to recognize your voice? If I read the gospels and the rest of the Bible, if I honestly listen to the voice of my conscience, it is possible for me to recognize his voice in the midst of others. I know deep in my heart if it really is him.

Elfriede Eugene

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Proposed reading : Gospel according to John, chapter 10, verses 1 to 15.

10.1 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate, but enters it through another place, is a thief and a robber.

10.2 But he who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.

10.3 The keeper opens the door to him, and the sheep hear his voice ; he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out.

10.4 When he has brought them all out, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, because they know his voice.

10.5 They will not follow a stranger, but rather flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.

10.6 Jesus told them this parable, but they did not understand what he was talking to them about.

10.7 Jesus said to them again : Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

10.8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.

10.9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved, he will come in and go out, and he will find something to eat.

10.10 The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy ; I have come so that the sheep may have life and have it abundantly.

10.11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

10.12 The simple employee, as for him, is not the shepherd and the sheep do not belong to him. When he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and flees, so the wolf grabs them and scatters them.

10.13 The simple employee runs away because he works for money and does not care about the sheep.

10.14 I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep and they know me,

10:15 just as the Father knows me and as I know the Father. I give my life for my sheep.

Source (Live Today)