Fourth Sunday of Easter (John 10:1-10)  5/11/2014

Listen to an audio recording <select here>

“Can you hear me now?” These words might be familiar to you if you remember the Verizon Wireless ads from a few years ago, or maybe you’ve heard those words if you have called me on my mobile phone while I was inside the stone walls of the church! Sometimes we struggle to clearly hear the words of those around. This reality is among the lessons Jesus aims to teach us this morning in our Gospel lesson. “The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice…and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.” (John 10:3-4) But, can you hear me now? The author of John’s Gospel account tells us, “No,” the disciples did not understand Jesus as he spoke this parable to them. I recently heard a wonderful story about a young girl who lives in northern New England; her parents raise Shetland Sheep for the beautiful wool of these animals. The young girl spends hours and hours among the sheep, she knows every sheep of the fold for their unique markings and color and their individual personality. And the sheep know her by voice, just as Jesus told in his story to his followers. The sheep know her because she is among them and cares for them in deep and personal ways. Continue reading →