Can you hear Jesus calling your name?

IV Sunday of Easter John 10, 1-10 Jesus said: "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 the shepherd 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, the Pharisees 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." The other day I was talking to a parishioner after mass. I had seen him quite often, but I didn’t know his name. So, I asked him, “what’s your name?” I will change his name to protect the innocent. He said, “Bob, my name is Bob.” “Great,” I responded, “Have a great day, Bob.” The next time I saw him I remembered his name and said, “Good morning, Bob!” He said, “Good morning father.” And he began to walk away, then he came back and said, “My name really isn’t Bob. It’s Roberto.” He explained that he was born here in Los Angeles and his parents were from Mexico. He said everyone called him Roberto and he liked the sound of his name. He went to a Catholic School in East LA and the teachers were all nuns from Ireland. On the first day of class, sister called his name. “Roberto” she paused and said, “Robert, from now on you will be Robert or Bob.” He said that hurt him. He said his name isn’t Bob, its Roberto and sister seemed to be saying to him that Roberto wasn’t good enough. It was too foreign or not American enough. He said that for the last 60 years just about everyone has called him Bob, if someone yells after him, “Hey Bob!” He’ll turn around, but that really isn’t his name. His name is Roberto: Jesus calls him by his name, Jesus calls him Roberto. In the Gospel there are two different images that speak of the mission of Jesus, “Shepherd,” and “gate.” The shepherd or pastor takes care of his sheep. He doesn’t just feed them and keep them safe, but the shepherd is willing to give his life for his sheep. The gate, obviously the gate like a door is where one comes in and out, we enter through Jesus, but Jesus, the gate is the one who keeps us safe. Two different images but one goal: That we might have life more abundantly. This shepherd knows his sheep, he calls each one by name and the sheep follow not just because they hear their name but because they recognize the voice of the shepherd. They have learned that he will bring them to green pastures where the can safely graze, he will lead to restful waters where they can drink. Most importantly they know that the shepherd will keep them safe. He won’t allow a wolve or any other enemy hurt them. They stay close to him. How is that the shepherd knows his sheep? He has been with them, he knows the one that gave birth, the one who walks with a limp, he knows the one that tends to stray off and he has to keep an eye on, and he also knows the ones that stay close. He has a name for each one because they are just a part of the herd. Each one of them is special, unique in his eyes. The shepherd recognizes his sheep, but the sheep recognize the shepherd as well. They recognize his voice, he is the one flipped them back on their feet when they feel on their backs, the one who scared away the wolves trying to attack. The one who led them to green pastures when they had eaten everything in the old. Jesus is obviously the shepherd. We’ve seen countless pictures of Jesus the good shepherd with the one little sheep on his shoulders and the others following up behind. But who are the sheep? Yes, obviously, we are the sheep. The shepherd, Jesus, calls each of us by name. And not just Patrick or Mary or Lydia or Roberto. But a name that recognizes us for who we are. We don’t have to change our names; no Jesus calls us that name that reveals our true identity. When he calls our name it is filled with intimacy, it is name that he speaks with love. And we respond, not just because we recognize the name, but we recognize the voice, a voice of love. Last week we had the Gospel of Emmaus, if you remember Cleophas and the other disciple didn’t recognize Jesus. They didn’t recognize him until the breaking of the bread. In the Eucharist their eyes were opened, and they could see Jesus clearly. Today we are invited to experience Jesus in another way, not to just see him, but to hear him as well. Can you hear Jesus calling your name? Do you recognize Jesus’ voice? Like the disciples at Emmaus, they didn’t recognize Jesus. We also don’t know Jesus’ voice. As Catholic Christians we are blessed to have the Word of God. Most especially the four gospels. Reading the Gospels is one of the best ways we can hear Jesus’ voice speaking to us. We need to be people of the word of God. We also hear Jesus in the sacraments, and we can hear Jesus in one another; most especially in the poor and those who are the outcasts of our community. Take some time in the quiet this week. See if you can hear Jesus call you by name, see if you can recognize Jesus’ voice in the people that you love and care about. In the story I told you about Roberto he shared that he was hurt because sister changed his name to Bob. As I said, Jesus knows us by name, Jesus calls us by name. And like Roberto you don’t need to change your name, you don’t need to change anything about yourself. Jesus calls you just as you are. Jesus calls your name, and we follow and he invites to live a more abundant life.