Today's selection from John's gospel describes the shepherds of Jesus' day.  Sometimes they kept their flocks in common corrals in the towns where they lived.  In this case the shepherd would go out early in the day and call his sheep.  They knew his voice and so they would follow him, out of the safety of the pen, into the pasture.  Jesus makes it clear; the sheep only follow the voice of the one they know. 

            It is of critical that we recognize the voice of the Lord in our lives.  Where do we hear his voice?  Christ speaks to us in the scriptures, especially when they are proclaimed in the midst of the congregation.  We hear his voice in our personal prayer life.  And we certainly come to know him in the breaking of the bread.

            Jesus also describes the way the shepherds cared for their flocks out on the range.  At night they built a corral for the sheep with a small opening or gate.  The shepherd would lie across the opening, making his body the gate.  In order for the sheep to leave the protection of the corral they must pass over the shepherd. 

            Jesus used this metaphor to remind us of our relationship to him in Baptism.  We are literally in the Lord.   In him we live and move and have our being.  Once we were like straying sheep, now we have returned to the protection and love of our shepherd.

            This week you might consider how often you allow yourself the opportunity to listen to the voice of the Lord?  Do you proclaim his voice to others?  Are you a shepherd as well as a sheep?

 Congratulations to our First Communion Class of 2011!  First Communion is one of the highlights of the year for me.  It is such a joy to witness these young people taking their next step in our Faith.  They are blessing to our whole community.  Thanks to all the parents and grandparents, sponsors and teachers who prepared them for their big day.  God bless you all!