WATCHWORD:
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:26
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own. 1 Corinthians 6:19
As the morning fog clears in our minds, and we consider the day, a thought persists:
Thank you, God. You say it’s October? What ever happened to September?
Meditation:
The Voice of the Shepherd
I have written a little story, a children’s book, which tells the tale of Ezbon, a young shepherd boy and his gift to the Christ Child. Ezon leads his small flock as they make their way among the hills of Judea, to pasture-land above Bethlehem. Along the way, his sheep often mix with other flocks, yet, as Ezbon moves, just the sound of his voice was sufficient for his own to follow.
Recently, prior to Sunday morning worship where I was to do the homily, I was, as usual, a little nervous. As I prepared, I became aware of that voice in my mind telling me “be at peace”. I thought about Ezbon and how his sheep recognized his voice. I also thought about the other voices that I often hear, not the voice of the Shepard but the voice of negativism, a voice that sometimes encourages me to go in ways that I did not and should not go. Multiple voices, some bringing light and blessedness, some bringing darkness.
What is the difference? Our discernment among those voices rests in our commitment to Christ. We have to make choices, every day of our lives. The practice of pausing to hear what the Lord is telling us through the Holy Spirit, will attune our ear to the Voice of the Lord, the Voice of the Shepherd.
But, my friends, it’s not that simple. Know that our ability to discern the Voice of the Lord will rest in our continuing commitment to Christ. Once we have surrendered to the Holy One, then it’s a matter of practice, and paying attention to the voice in our mind, and what it is saying. In time, we will recognize the Voice of the Shepard, as opposed to the voice of distractions.
We have heard “let your conscience be your guide” and maybe that’s not such bad advice as long as we understand and know that what we call our conscience is actually the Voice of the Shepard. So be it.
Bulletin Board:
Four thoughts on recognizing the Voice of the Shepherd:
- The Holy Spirit speaks in quiet, intimate ways.
- The Holy Spirit speaks only in your language.
- Holy Spirit will never contradict God’s Word.
- The Holy Spirit’s tone of voice will always be the same.
Closing Prayer:
We come before You, Father, seeking first to praise You and to thank You for the graces that You have showered on us and to recognize that all have come from God. Grant us the the courage to make the choice to offer these gifts for the good of others and for Your glory, Lord. Lord Jesus, may our hearts stand ever ready to move us into action as You show us opportunities to serve You. Holy Spirit, please lead us in obedience to Christ always , and press out of us the gifts we are meant to offer to the glory of God. Amen.
