Sunday, May 11, is the Fourth Sunday of Easter. Mass readings: Acts 13:14, 43-52; Psalm 100:1-2, 3, 5; Revelation 7:9, 14b-17; John 10:27-30.

The Lord says in today’s Gospel, “My sheep hear my voice.” 

He calls us sheep. Although sheep are considered somewhat lowly animals, they are valuable as well. 

Let’s consider some of their qualities:

They tend to wander off. Dogs and cats can find their way home, but sheep can’t. 

We, like sheep, often have gone astray, each to his own way (Isaiah 53:6). 

Yes, we easily become lost, too. 

We need the sheepfold of the Church. 

We human “sheep” like to think we’re smart. 

But for too many of us, the simplest directions from God either confuse us — or we stubbornly refuse to follow them. 

When the wolf comes, all sheep can do is stand there. 

We like to think we’re strong. Then, at the slightest temptation, we fall! 

We need the Lord and his grace and mercy, or we don’t stand a chance. We are weak and prone to sin. In Jesus’ day, many a man counted his wealth by the number of sheep he owned. 

Shepherds made many sacrifices to breed, herd and protect these valuable animals. And the Lord paid the price of our redemption. 

He knew the price and paid it all — not with silver and gold but with his own precious blood (1 Peter 1:18-19).

Sheep flock together and are safer that way. 

We are called to be part of a flock and to be in the care of a shepherd. Most of us realize this in a parish setting. In the Gospel of John, Jesus says, “A stranger the sheep will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers” (John 10:11-14). 

Sheep have the remarkable quality of knowing their master’s voice and of instinctively fearing any other. 

In this matter, sheep are smarter than most of us, for we often do not flee voices contrary to Christ’s. We must be warier, like sheep, and respond only to one voice: that of the Lord speaking through his Church.  We must flee every other voice.

In these ways, we see that the image of sheep is fitting. 

Can you distinguish the Lord’s voice from worldly or devilish ones? Are we smart enough to flee from dissenting and erroneous voices? Do we follow the Shepherd?