Listen to the Good Shepherd

by Fr. Sergio Perez, OSJ

Province Vocation & Youth Director

There is a saying “if you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans.” Many of us know that when we try to live out our lives by following what we want to do, it will not always be easy or even successful. When we make decisions and choices in our life, we consider the advice of others but also the other influences that may shape the way we think and act. There are more voices and distractions now in the world that it can be difficult to hear our own voice and for some that may bring anxiety, a feeling of being lost, or impulsive to do things without considering what is the best option. In my life I always knew what I wanted to do. I wanted to get married at 25 years old, have 8 children, and be a High School teacher. As you can see that didn’t work out the way I planned. It wasn’t until I stopped asking about what I wanted to do with my life or what others wanted me to do and started listening to the voice of the Good Shepherd Jesus Christ. I knew that if I listened to Him, then I will be in good hands.

Too often we can take our relationship with Christ for granted and forget to spend time with Him. Many of us who were raised in the Catholic faith, we can treat our faith as too common or be too comfortable that we forget what we really believe and who we believe in. The message we hear from St. Peter in the first reading as he was preaching on Pentecost about who Jesus Christ truly is, is also meant for us to take to heart and be changed by it. When Peter addressed the crowd, “they were cut to the heart.” Sometimes the Holy Spirit speaks in a moment of clarity deep in our spirit. When was the last time we were “cut to the heart” when we heard or read the gospel? The Lord is calling those to truly change their lives for the better and embrace the call to holiness.

There are many men and women who have been called to serve the Lord in a radical way as priests, religious sisters and brothers—during Mass, on a retreat, or at a youth event. The question is, how do they respond? Maybe someone reading this is being called to the Lord in their heart, will you be like those in the crowd that day, who responded wholeheartedly to the call? All who are baptized are called to respond to the Lord, but there are few who are chosen to give their lives entirely for the sake of the Gospel.

It is a daunting task to give your life to Christ. We all know that being a Catholic and following Jesus is not easy. Yes, there are beautiful moments filled with God’s grace, but we must be honest and know it can be challenging. If being a Catholic is challenging, it is more so when being a priest, religious brother, or religious sister. When a young person feels called to the priesthood or religious life, he or she can experience confusion and anxiety. But the saints tell us to never to decide in a state of fear. Rather, like the psalmist, we must learn to discover a place of inner peace, where we hear Jesus, and then trustingly respond to His call. We must embrace the belief that the Lord is my shepherd and there is nothing I shall want.

We can proclaim this because we have faith in Jesus. We know that He is true and is always wanting the best for us. To follow the Good Shepherd, we must know His voice and spend time with Him through prayer, adoration, reading the scriptures, and in service to others. There can be a temptation to not feeling adequate in following Jesus. There is a false thought of feeling not good enough for Jesus. Imperfection does not disqualify you from a vocation! In fact, those who have strayed furthest are the greatest testaments to God’s mercy. Offer your unworthiness to God, then follow wherever he leads. There are countless saints who have led lives that were not perfect, yet they transformed their lives by giving themselves completely to Christ. We need to be reminded to give our lives to Jesus and He will help us to change. We can’t do it ourselves. God doesn’t call the perfect, but He calls those who are humble enough to change for the better.

So, what are we to do if we want to follow the Lord and remain with Him? To hear the Shepherd’s voice requires quiet and prayer. The late Pope Benedict XVI said, “Young people, if they can be taught how to pray, can be trusted to know what to do with God’s call.” Prayer is vital in staying close to the Lord. Thankfully, there are various methods of prayer that the Church offers to us. We can pray with the rosary, the divine mercy chaplet, with our bibles, with music, in silence, and especially living out the sacraments of the Eucharist and confession. Listening for God’s voice is very important, especially when making big decisions in life. Spending time in discernment and seeking God’s Will is something we should all be doing. In our marriages, with our jobs and careers, with our children, our relationships, and with our vocation. The Good Shepherds know His sheep, because He has called us by name. Do we know His voice? Do we hear Him calling out to us? Take the time to listen to His voice and follow Him.

Use the time you have in your daily life to listen to Christ’s voice and remain in His peace. The Lord will never lead you astray, but He will lead you to your happiness and your holiness. I’m thankful that I took the time to listen and discern the voice of the Lord when I did. It was during that time I accepted His calling to be His priest and serve Him as an Oblate of St. Joseph. The Good Shepherd has called me to help my fellow sheep, especially among the youth, to know the Lord’s voice and follow Him. The Church invites you today to listen to Christ’s voice and follow Him, and if He is tugging at your heart to serve Him as a priest, religious brother, or religious sister, don’t’ be afraid to say “yes.” It will be the best decision you will make.