Voice of the Shepherd

Prayer-Soldier · Posted: Sat May 14, 2011 4:10 pm Post subject: Voice of the Shepherd

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed: Therefore let all the house of Israel know most certainly, that God made both Lord and Christ, this same Jesus, whom you have crucified. Now when they had heard these things, they had compunction in their heart, and said to Peter, and to the rest of the apostles: What shall we do, men and brethren? But Peter said to them: Do penance, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins: and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all that are far off, whomsoever the Lord our God shall call. And with very many other words did he testify and exhort them, saying: Save yourselves from this perverse generation. They therefore that received his word, were baptized; and there were added in that day about three thousand souls. And they were persevering in the doctrine of the apostles, and in the communication of the breaking of bread, and in prayers. (Acts 2:14a, 36-41)

The call of the Lord is to all the children of His creation. The call comes to each of us in different forms; it is heard in different ways, it is seen in different ways, it is felt in different ways, but it is there. Some will seek to ignore what is felt, not knowing that which they seek to deny. Some will try to explain it away in terms they can perceive, but the loving hand of God will continue to beckon. We may not hear the voice in our ear, but we cannot deny what is found in our heart.

Some will not understand that which calls from with-inside them. They will only know that there is something which they seek, but will not understand the emptiness caused by their attempts to ignore what they feel in their hearts. Others may fear what it means to respond, for they fear their sin. They do not understand that their sin may be forgiven if they turn in faith to the grace and mercy of the Lord.

Others are torn by what they see about them and fear separation from the world, failing to see the evil which lures them. It is the ways of the evil one to lure us away from the admission of our sins and any desire to repent. We should know, the strength of our faith, the strength of our healing is found through placing ourselves in the loving arms of God.

It is hard to accept our sin. It is also hard to accept that as we seek to repent, it will be a constant struggle and there will be many times we will fail. In prayer, we may ask for the help of the Holy Spirit that our heart will be filled with the strength of faith so that we will turn from our sin and follow in the ways of the Lord.

As we receive the Holy Spirit, we receive the one who sent the Holy Spirit, our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As He fills our hearts, we learn to resist the empty promises of the one who would seek to separate us from our Creator. God will not abandon any of His children, but some of His children will abandon Him by denying their belief in the One who suffered for our sins.

For this is grace, if for conscience towards God, a man endures sorrows, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if committing sin, and being buffeted for it, you endure? But if doing well you suffer patiently; this is grace before God.

For unto this are you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example that you should follow his steps. He did no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. Who, when he was reviled, did not revile: when he suffered, he threatened not: but delivered himself to him that judged him unjustly. Who his own self bore our sins in his body upon the tree: that we, being dead to sins, should live to justice: by whose stripes you were healed. For you were as sheep going astray; but you are now converted to the shepherd and bishop of your souls. (1 Peter 2:19-25)

Our Savior sought to teach us the law which we did not understand. He sought to bring us the Word; teaching through parables and the example of selfless love. He taught us that if we love and care for one another, we must be prepared to suffer for one another. He taught us that in suffering, there is a greater good which will come.

If we all seek to serve one another as our Savior taught and did, injustice will be removed from the world for there will no longer be those who might oppress. We will still face the challenges of survival, but as we follow the commandments of love, we will accomplish more together than if we attempt to stand alone.

Amen, amen I say to you: He that enters not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up another way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter opens; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out. And when he has let out his own sheep, he goes before them: and the sheep follow him, because they know his voice. But a stranger they follow not, but flee from him, because they know not the voice of strangers. This proverb Jesus spoke to them. But they understood not what he spoke to them.

Jesus therefore said to them again: Amen, amen I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All others, as many as have come, are thieves and robbers: and the sheep heard them not. I am the door. By me, if any man enter in, he shall be saved: and he shall go in, and go out, and shall find pastures. The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I am come that they may have life, and may have it more abundantly. (John 10:1-10)

We must know the goal of the evil one is to lead the children of God astray from their Creator. This will be done through deception and falsehoods designed to lead us away from the truth of the Word.

We have been warned of false prophets. We have been warned of those who seek to deceive the children of God. The deceiver will not come to us in the garb of a great demon, announcing that he will lead us to eternal misery, despair and ruin; rather, he will come to us as if he is a shepherd, enticing us to green pastures. Deception will not be presented to us so that we may easily recognize it, rather, it will be wrapped in what we will accept as truth.

The deceiver may come to us as a purveyor of faith, but one who preaches heresies, twisting scripture, giving us words, but corrupting their meaning. The deceiver will prey upon our emotions, upon our desires, upon our faults. The deceiver will use all the sources of our sin to cause divisions among the children of God so that we are led away from the commandments of love and to the temptations which lead to injustice and oppression between people.

Through prayer, we must ask for the gift of the Holy Spirit so that we are guided in faith and will not be deceived by the words of false prophets. As we accept the Holy Spirit in our hearts, we will recognize the voice of the shepherd over the voice of the stranger.

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier