On this Fourth Sunday of Easter the Liturgy is filled with imagery of Christ being our Good Shepherd. We sing Psalm 23 (The Lord is My Shepherd). Christ is described as the “shepherd and guardian of your souls.” In the gospel Jesus describes how he walks ahead of us and we follow him because we recognize his voice.
Following someone can mean different things. We can literally and physically follow the leader in single file. But the kind of “following” portrayed here is a faith-following. Where Christ has gone, we hope to follow. Christ is the firstborn of the dead and he continuously desires to raise us up into himself, to what is lovely and life-giving. We are also called to follow Christ in imitating his servant’s heart – to be with other people in humble and generous love.
What about the voice and message of Christ inspires you to follow him in faith?