Follow the “voice” and stick to God’s plan

Today at Holy Mass in all the readings there is a common theme, which tells us that Jesus is the Good Shepherd…We are told in the Gospel of St John that the sheep hear the Shepherd’s voice…..That the sheep will not follow the voice of someone who is not the Shepherd……St John Gospel is a very blunt account - John tells us very clearly that Jesus is the only way - That there is no other way that leads to salvation….."Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly”…….The “voice” that the sheep hear is the Natural Law - It is “hardwired” on the hearts of all mankind - There is nothing we can do to erase the Natural Law from our hearts - That is why when we hear the voice of Christ proclaimed through the Gospel - It registers deeply within us….So why is it then that some people, who also have the Natural Law written on their hearts turn away from Christ and the Catholic Church?…..Jesus addresses the answer to that question in this Gospel today as well……We are told by St John that -  “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly” - And those who hear the voice of Christ and turn away from him do not believe this reality - They believe that following Jesus will not make their life better - They see the sacrifices required to be an authentic disciple of Christ and want nothing to do with such a life - They can not believe that if they too “pick up their cross” somehow they will have a better life - So what do they do? - They turn away from the “voice” of the Good Shepherd….This was the case from the very beginning, from the first betrayal of Jesus - When Judas turned from him….Judas knew Jesus was a very special person, but he lost faith in Jesus’ method of how the Jewish people would be liberated - Judas thought he had a “better plan” - So he betrayed him….This same mindset exists to this very day….The unbelieving world that turns from Christ still “hears” his voice - How do I know that? - Because the Natural Law is written on every human heart…But the unbelieving world turns from that “voice” because it does not believe that following “that voice” will bring them an abundant life…..This is why practicing Catholics must lead the way - Only by our example can we show people that Jesus takes nothing from us - He only gives!!!! - That the teachings of the Catholic Church lead a person to an abundant life, full of joy and peace….Only by our example can we demonstrate this reality - Words will never convince the world - That God gives - God never takes….People believe what they see - So we must show them!

“If you are patient when you suffer for doing what is good, this is a grace before God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his footsteps”

Today the institution of marriage is in crisis - One in two marriages ends in divorce…Why do you think that is?…..First off, do we even know what marriage is? - Marriage is a Sacrament….Now ask yourself - How many people live their marriage Sacramentally?…..Placing God and the teachings of the Catholic Church at the center of their marriage…..How many Catholic marriages today use contraception?….When we make our vows on the altar - We as Catholics vow we will be open to life - And when we break that vow by using contraception - Our marriages cease to be Sacramental - That means God’s grace does not animate the bond between the man and the woman - And when that happens - Selfishness creeps in - And Selfishness is the destroyer of love…..This is why marriage as an institution is in trouble - Because modern man does not live marriage as it was intended…So what does this sad reality have to do with Jesus being the Good Shepherd?…..As I stated above, the voice of the Shepard is heard by all because the Natural Law is written on every human heart - Many people today feel that if they follow that “voice”, it will lead to a hard and joyless life - That such a decision will not bring them peace…..Clearly that mindset has been proven false when it comes to who has successful marriages and by the divorce statistics……Authentic Catholic marriages, that place God in the center and are open to life work! - Why? - Because they comport to the Natural Law…..And to deny the Natural Law is like trying to deny the existence of gravity…….The ever present voice of God can still be heard today - Even above all the “noise” of the culture - Its up to us to pay attention for that “voice”… If we watch closely at the lives of faithful Catholics - What you will see is not a “perfect people” but a group of people who are peaceful and full of joy…..What you will also see is their marriages work! - Why? - Because marriage is a Sacrament - These couples heard the voice of the Good Shepard and followed that voice……And guess what happened? - They were given an abundant life, just as St John told us in the Gospel today….Go figure?!? - What Jesus says really works - Imagine that!

“When he was insulted, he returned no insult; when he suffered, he did not threaten; instead, he handed himself over to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you had gone astray like sheep, but you have now returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls”

Today we are told at Mass that Jesus is the Good Shepherd and that his sheep hear his voice…….So here is the question - If that were true - Why is it that so many people don’t seem to “hear” what Jesus is telling them today?…..The answer to the question is not found in the fact that those who turn from Christ’s voice don’t “hear” it - Because they do hear it! - The problem is - They hear it but don’t believe “the voice” will lead them to a happy and productive life - They believe they have a “better plan”…..If we are objective students of history and if we are honest, we will read in the history books how many people “thought” they had a “better plan”, which contradicted God’s plan - Once again, if we are honest - What happened to those “better plans” and those people?……Like it or not - All things point to Christ - That is reality! - Why? - Because he has the best plan!………The Natural Law is written on every human heart and the voice of the Good Shepard can be heard by all….Maybe its time the modern world should start listening? - And be convinced!! - That God way works!! - That God has the best plan!!…..Once we are fully convinced that God’s plan for our life is infinitely better then “our plan” - Then and only then will we follow the Good Shepherd where ever he leads…..God gives - God does not take - And the “sheep” that follow the Shepherd know this and the “sheep” that turn away think they have a “better plan”………The pages of history show us this - Don’t end up on the scrap heap of history!!……..Follow the “voice” and stick to God’s plan!……..JMJ