Whose voice do you hear?

The lessons for this Fourth Sunday of Easter focus on the Good Shepherd. Last week we saw Jesus calling Peter – and the other disciples – to "tend" and "feed" the flock. In this Sunday's Gospel Reading (John 10:22-30) Jesus, the Good Shepherd says, "My sheep hear my voice. I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life..."

This is in perfect harmony with this Sunday's psalm – that most familiar and popular Psalm 23: "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me beside still waters".

Similarly, in the Second Reading from Revelation 7:9-17 we read as follows: "And the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. They will hunger not more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any searching heat; for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes".

All these are consoling words, especially at this time and in this month of April which has been full of drama, violence, tragedy, heart-breaks and sorrow.

The question that these readings raise is this: "Whose voice do you hear?" Not just hearing but which voice do you heed? Remember, there are many voices and from many sources, vying for attention. It is critical that we hear and heed the right voice.

I am reminded of an illustration made by Charles Swindoll in one of his books. He narrates how in military training there are usually several platoons training simultaneously in the same ground. There are therefore several instructions coming from different drill instructors at the same time. In such a situation, it is essential that a recruit learn to recognize his or her instructor's voice.

So, who is your drill instructor and whose voice do you hear?