V for Voice
The voice of a person is something very particular.
The intonation, the pronunciation, the rhythm – everything is characteristic of this individual.
There are voices which are soft, warm, comforting, seducing…
And there are others which are… completely the opposite!
Even in the distance, the voice of someone can be recognized by its tone.
A familiar voice invites us, or makes us turn back, according to the relationship of the person with us.
Jesus has used this reality to describe precisely our relationship with him.
He takes the example of a shepherd and he says:
“He (the shepherd) goes on ahead of the sheep,
and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.
But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him
because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.”
Jesus used this figure of speech…” (John 10:4-6).
Jesus continues and makes the text personal:
“My sheep listen to my voice;
I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27).
This comparison had something familiar to the people listening to Jesus –
some of them were probably shepherds who knew the ways of their flocks.
Even though, nowadays, we may not spontaneously think of ourselves – disciples of Christ –
as sheep, his words reach us and speak to our hearts…
Because this is exactly what he desires: to reach us in the depths of ourselves.
Obviously, his message is not audible as the words of people around us are.
We cannot measure the sound of his words with a precise number of decibels.
It is not the resonance that is important but… the relationship!
This is what God wants: an intimate relationship with us – a relationship that expresses
his proximity,
his attention to all that touches us,
his desire to answer our needs.
If only we know how to perceive his voice…
discern his message…
and… answer it…
Some people speak of ‘the small voice’ which they perceive in the depths of themselves…
It could be translated as an intimate call, an inspiration, a discreet invitation…
The voice of him who revealed himself as “The Good Shepherd” could manifest itself in this way…
Then, there remains only to follow the advice of the Psalmist:
“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts” (Psalm 95:7).