“My sheep hear my voice; I know them and they fallow me”

Is there anyone in my life who truly knows me?

Before whom I don’t need to pretend, keep good face,

How did that person come to knowing me?

I may work with some people for 20 years and it may seem like I know them…

But they don’t really know me and neither I them

I may come for 20 years for Sunday mass and still don’t know Jesus

Hearing shepherd voice requires time with him.

Not only during Sunday Mass where we come as a one flock to our shepherd

But also I daily life

If I don’t have time to read scripture, to pray every day,

to talk to him and listen to him

Then I won’t ever know his voice

I may know who he is, how he looks like.

But it won’t go further into intimate knowledge. Friendship. Discipleship.

As he is shepherd to us, so we are called to be sheperd to others

Shepherd love is courageous love.

But we give up so easily on others.

We quit investing in others

Well, we usually have good reasons for that too.

But isn’t good shepherd looking after lost sheep? Till he find it?

Maybe the lost sheep in your life is your child, parent,

old friend, coworker, spouse ..

He,she might become so distant from you

..love after many years is gone… You just live together..

Eat meals.. Watch TV… Go to church… Argue…

Maybe you don’t do enough. And yes you have reasons for that.

Other person isn’t without guilt..

But Good shepherd puts aside expectations about his sheep

He simply loves them

And we have so many expectations about others…

We need to review those expectations,

puts them a side and starts once again love others unconditionally

Because only unconditional love can warm up other person cold or frozen heart

Only selfless love can inspire other person

Only self giving love can open other person locked heart

good shepherd is perfect example of such selfless, self giving,

unconditional love