In this Sunday's Gospel, Jesus says: 'The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.'" Jesus knows each of us. For Jesus, we are not anonymous persons. He calls each of us and knows us by name. The name given to us by loving parents and friends is known to him! Christ Himself is the Good Shepherd, who knows each one of us and gives His life for us.

We are called to listen to God's voice, a voice we can trust. This voice always seeks the best for us and will guide us in the path of goodness. In the midst of so many voices, we recognize the voice of the one who gives us life. 

This Sunday in the United States, we celebrate Mother's Day. It is our mother's voice that first spoke to us about God, for which we are eternally grateful. We recognize the heartbeat of our mothers. We find safety and comfort with her. It is her voice that we can distinguish in a crowd and follow in the direction of that voice until we see her face. 

Jesus is calling us. He says: "I came that they might have life and have it to the full" (John 10:10).  He said this while speaking of us, for he is our shepherd, our protector, leading us to everlasting life. A paraphrase of Psalm 23 says, "Shepherd me, O God, beyond my wants, beyond my fears, from death into life."