Did you hear the story of a woman who went to see an attorney about getting a divorce? He asked, “What are your grounds?” She replied, “We have about half an acre.” The lawyer then inquired, “Do you have a grudge?” “No,” she responded, “We only have a carport.” The lawyer tried again, “Is your husband running around with another woman?” “Heavens, no!” the wife exclaimed. “He has arthritis and he can hardly walk, much less run.” The lawyer then asked, “Does he ever beat you up in the morning?” “Oh, no,” she replied, “I always get up first and make the coffee.” Finally the attorney asked, “Well, then, why do you want a divorce?” The woman said, “I just can’t seem to communicate with him.”
Jesus would never divorce us, but how often have we “divorced”him? The number of Catholics in America who chose not to grow in their faith has been steadily increasing over the past 25 years.They think of themselves as Catholic and claim to believe in God, but they have little contact with Jesus in terms of attending Mass and practicing the faith. While church attendance is not a clear indication of internal faith, one has to wonder if their faith is fading away. Would Paul accuse them of rejecting God’s word?
Hearing and listening may be kissing cousins, but they can be worlds apart in their results. How often have we heard something only to discover, when the information proved quite critical, that we hadn’t been listening? Sometimes, we hear the words, accept them as true, but they have no relevance to us then. If they are true and if they are from God, they’ll return to our minds when we need them. I suspect many of you have had that experience of words deep within that came to mind when they were needed.
This Sunday is often thought of as Good Shepherd Sunday, but perhaps a better title would be “Good Listening Sunday.” Listening plays a significant role in our relationships. We listen to those we love yet how good are we at the art of listening? As my opening story suggests, poor listening leads to poor communication, which in turn can lead to broken relationships.
Former President Jimmy Carter found himself in a situation once with too many commitments in too few days. “I was snapping at my wife and daughter, choking down my food at mealtimes, and feeling irritated at those unexpected interruptions throughout the day. Before long, those around our house started affecting the pattern of my hurry up style. It was becoming unbearable.
“I distinctly remember after dinner one evening the words of our daughter. She wanted to tell me something important that had happened to her at school that day. She began hurriedly, ‘Daddy, I wanna tell you something and I’ll tell you really fast.’
“Suddenly, realizing her frustration, I answered, ‘Honey, you can tell me—and you don’t have to tell me really fast. Say it slowly.’ And I’ll never forget her answer: ‘Then, listen slowly.’”
Amy Carter gives us precious advice. “Then listen slowly.” We need to listen slowly to what Jesus has to say to us through scripture, through prayer, through the Eucharist, and through the teachings of our Church. Jesus, the good shepherd, calls us to listen consciously, deliberately and wisely to his voice in the midst of the noise and busyness of our lives if we desire eternal life. Face it, many others are trying to tell us how to live our lives as well but if they are not centered on Christ, they could lead us astray. When we find ourselves having to make critical choices, how often do we listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd deep down within us? Like a shepherd keeping watch over his flock, he is there to safeguard us from harm.
As I contemplate the joyful scene that we find in Revelation, my prayer is that all of us will be numbered in the multitude standing before the Lamb but keep in mind the caution aired by Paul in our first reading. Salvation is not a given. Those who do not care to listen to the Word of God convict themselves as being “unworthy of eternal life.” Not that God wants to convict anyone but by rejecting what God has to say, they deny themselves the opportunity to experience salvation in this lifetime and the next. When we ignore Jesus and that can be done in any number of ways that lead us to sin, we shortchange ourselves much like the Jews in ancient Antioch did.
We are urged to listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd who speaks to us in the love and joy, the pain and anguish, the cries for mercy and justice of those around us. In responding to the voice of Christ with acts of generosity, love and forgiveness, we proclaim to others the good news of hope and grace that is the Easter miracle. No wonder Christ has made us a light to the nations and a means of salvation to the ends of the earth. Yes, God is counting on us to follow the example of his Son in our daily lives so others will see the wisdom of listening to the good shepherd. We do this because we trust him to lead us in the right direction.
In today’s gospel, Jesus affirms the theme of listening when he says, “My sheep hear my voice.” They accept his guidance much like sheep in the pasture accept the prodding of a caring shepherd who is protecting them from danger. Those who listen and follow Jesus are assured that they will never perish for sin will not destroy their relationship with God. In other words, if we follow him and listen to him, we will hear his wisdom when the need arises.
Yes, Jesus has the words of eternal life. Are you listening to him? Are you accepting what he has to say? Do you trust him to show you the way? Those are questions to prayerfully consider before you find your faith fading away.