John 10:22-30 (Tuesday gospel)
22 The feast of the Dedication was then taking place in Jerusalem. It was winter.
23 And Jesus walked about in the temple area on the Portico of Solomon.
24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, "How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly."
25 Jesus answered them, "I told you and you do not believe. The works I do in my Father's name testify to me.
26 But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep.
27 My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand.
29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father's hand.
30 The Father and I are one."
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This is an excellent follow to the good shepherd passage we heard at Mass on Sunday.
I'd like to focus on verses 27 - 30. Christ says that his sheep hear his voice; he knows them, and they follow him. What does that mean for us now, 2000 years later? What does it mean to hear Christ's voice, and follow Him?
Does it mean to just hear? I don't think so.
Does it mean to hear and recognize that he is savior and has died for our sins? Many say this. But what about following? He is very clear that we are to follow Him.
Or does it mean to hear, recognize he is savior, and to follow him by obeying his words? This is what the Catholic Church says. We follow him by committing our lives to him, by doing what He says to the best that we can, and by reconciling ourselves to God when we can't.
