Fourth Sunday of Easter

In our Gospel for this Sunday, Jesus said: “My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.” When Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice,” He was speaking of an experiential reality. For those of us who have no experience with sheep and shepherds, some background information will certainly be helpful.
Sheep have a keen sense of hearing. They recognize their shepherd not so much by sight (as they have poor eyesight) but by the sound of his voice. Even if two or three flocks are mixed together, the shepherd only has to call out, and only his own sheep will follow him. That is why Jesus said that the sheep who belong to Him listen to His voice. Jesus calls us His sheep. So, where is His voice, and how do we listen to it?
Today is Vocation Sunday, and we also celebrate Mother’s Day. Vocation Sunday focuses on the promotion of priestly vocations, and Mother’s Day is linked to this in a profound way.
We know that mothers have a deep influence over their children through what they say to them. Mothers say a lot to their children, and at times they may think their children are not listening—but in fact, the children are listening. We bear testimony to this whenever we say, “My mother once told me…” The mother’s mission, then, is to be the voice of Jesus to her children: to guide them in doing what is right, just, and good. She is called to lead them to Jesus and to teach them to follow Him. Mothers can also gently say to their children, “If God wants you to be a priest or religious, then think about it.”
Therefore, on this Vocation Sunday and Mother’s Day, I want to say to all mothers: Keep the faith and be the voice of Jesus to your children. Teach them to pray and to always do what is right, just, and good. Your children will remember what you tell them. And if they ever become a priest or a religious, your blessings will be great—on earth and in heaven.

Fr. Aegidius Warsito