Fourth Sunday of Easter | iPray with the Gospel
Jesus said: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
John 10:27-30
Those who pray hear the voice of Jesus. They will not hear a ‘voice’ as such, but will be able to recognise what He says. Like a mother can ‘understand’ her child even if the baby doesn’t pronounce words but just makes random noises. That familiarity with the baby allows the mother to understand. The same happens in our life of prayer. The more we talk to God, the more we communicate; the more we communicate, the more we understand His Will for us.
The shepherd’s voice gives peace and confidence to the sheep. They trust the shepherd; they know his voice and follow him. Therefore, no-one shall snatch them out of his hand: they are safe. It’s the same with us: there is no safer place than God’s Hand.
A man was taking care of his blind daughter when he left her for a moment to go to the grocery store and back. Shortly after, a fire broke out in the building. The fire brigade blocked the street and evacuated the neighbours from the building. With a megaphone, the fire chief was encouraging the people still trapped in the building to jump onto the safety net. They all jumped except the blind girl. She was petrified, frozen to the spot at the window, where her father had left her. At that moment the father arrived and was horrified to discover what was happening. He grabbed the megaphone and said: ‘Honey! It’s daddy down here. Jump on the count of three!’ Instantly, without a moment’s hesitation she jumped: that voice was well known to her!
This Sunday was designated by St John Paul II as the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. We ask through the intercession of Our Lady that many will hear the voice of God and know the Will of God for them. May they learn to trust in Him and jump into His Hands, for there is no safer place than the Hands of God Our Father.
This article originally appeared on www.ipraywiththegospel.org. Reprinted with permission. Copyright © Fr. George Boronat.
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Rev. George Boronat
Rev. George Boronat M.D. S.T.D is a Catholic priest from the Prelature of Opus Dei, working in the Archdiocese of Southwark in London. He is the Chaplain of The Cedars Independent School in Croydon, and also works as Chaplain of Kelston Club & Study Centre (Balham) and Oakwood Independent School (Purley). He has developed his pastoral ministry mainly with young people and is the author of iPray with the Gospel: Resources to Help Young People Pray.
