SEEL Preparation Week - Day 2 "The Good Shepard"

John 10 1:17

“Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber. But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they recognize his voice. But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.” Although Jesus used this figure of speech, they did not realize what he was trying to tell them. So Jesus said again, “Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came [before me] are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them. This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father, and I will lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd. This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again.

Who are the other sheep not of this fold? The world of the unreached people of the world who have not heard His voice? Is it those sheep who have listened to the word and believe but have chosen paths different from what the beloved disciple would think proper? Might it be me because I have not indeed abandoned my self-directed struggles to be unique? Is it possible I am being pointed toward sheep who belong to the fold but are not sure of their place or feel a need to be pulled closer to the sound of his voice?

As I ponder and wrestle with these thoughts, suddenly the sound of the clock ticking has become thunderous. The benign rushing noise of the water running through the lines beneath out to the sprinklers has become impossible to ignore. The words, the ideas, and the message I am to receive today are difficult. No matter the answer, I may be called to action of some kind and it is always my preference to be lazy. Maybe I am overthinking all of this and the unusual volume of routine sounds might be the result of me sitting in this space wearing my hearing aids and I am not accustomed to the new volumes. What is certain, however, is the fact I have committed these thoughts to the blank page points to what is normal for me. I am often distracted when I focus on reflective prayer on something divine. 

If the sheep outside the fold represent the billions of people of many different beliefs, I think of my cousin Rusty and his wife Penny who are focused on the work of being missionaries to the sheep around them. I admire their singleness of purpose and have committed to supporting them in prayer and companionship. Their calling, however, is not my own. My charisms call me in other directions so I will continue my reflective prayer for other answers. 

It feels more appropriate to focus on the sheep who have chosen other paths, those who belong to the fold but need more and myself. Feeling the call to teach and touch those who have wandered or doubted, I will finally turn to myself. Am I willing to embrace his call to me that I hear again today to feed his sheep? My answer for today, this morning, is yes. 

The clock's ticking and the running water hum have faded into the background. I hear his voice. 

Amen.