Not Included

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/041716.cfm) reminds me that I should be able to hear God's voice in my life. 

They say that to those who believe, no proof is necessary, but to those who don’t believe, no proof is sufficient. This is similar to what we see in the first reading. The jews were the chosen people. It is to them that Jesus and his disciples first preached the message. But they rejected it. They did not hear God's voice. They did not understand God's message. 

If you don’t hear God’s voice, maybe he is not your God.

The bible says that if we seek God with all of our hearts, we will find him. That is a promise. And as christians, we should seek God with all of our hearts. However, if we still do not find him. If we still do not hear him, then there is something wrong.  If you do not hear his voice, probably you are not part of his sheep. Probably he is not God in your life.

God’s love is for all, both jews and gentiles. He is not exclusive. Being in among his sheep is not a privilege given to a select few. In fact, we see in the first reading how the disciples proclaimed him to all nations. God welcomes all, but the decision to stay among God’s sheep is ours.

IF we do not listen to God’s voice. If we do not hear it. If we do not believe his words and his promises. If we do not believe that he has great plans for us, and instead do things our way. If we do not trust in Him and depend on other people and ourselves, then we are choosing to go out of his fold. Then maybe we are choosing to be away from him.

God wants all of us to be with him, but the decision to stay with him rests on us. May we choose wisely.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. thank you for another chance to love and serve you.  Thank you for another Sunday. Thank you for another reminder. Thank you for being welcoming and loving. Thank you for your promises. Lord, I ask that you help me be more aware of you in my life. May I be sensitive to listen to your voice in my life. Help me seek you with all of my heart. And Help me choose you always. Amen.

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflections:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-voice.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-voice.html

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

April 17, 2016
Fourth Sunday of Easter
Lectionary: 51

Reading 1 Acts 13:14, 43-52

Paul and Barnabas continued on from Perga
and reached Antioch in Pisidia.
On the sabbath they entered the synagogue and took their seats.
Many Jews and worshipers who were converts to Judaism
followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them
and urged them to remain faithful to the grace of God.

On the following sabbath almost the whole city gathered
to hear the word of the Lord.
When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy
and with violent abuse contradicted what Paul said.
Both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said,
“It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first,
but since you reject it
and condemn yourselves as unworthy of eternal life,
we now turn to the Gentiles.
For so the Lord has commanded us,
I have made you a light to the Gentiles,
that you may be an instrument of salvation
to the ends of the earth.”

The Gentiles were delighted when they heard this
and glorified the word of the Lord.
All who were destined for eternal life came to believe,
and the word of the Lord continued to spread
through the whole region.
The Jews, however, incited the women of prominence who were worshipers
and the leading men of the city,
stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas,
and expelled them from their territory.
So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them,
and went to Iconium.
The disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 100:1-2, 3, 5

R. (3c) We are his people, the sheep of his flock.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
serve the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful song.
R. We are his people, the sheep of his flock.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Know that the LORD is God;
he made us, his we are;
his people, the flock he tends.
R. We are his people, the sheep of his flock.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD is good:
his kindness endures forever,
and his faithfulness, to all generations.
R. We are his people, the sheep of his flock.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Reading 2 Rev 7:9, 14b-17

I, John, had a vision of a great multitude,
which no one could count,
from every nation, race, people, and tongue.
They stood before the throne and before the Lamb,
wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.

Then one of the elders said to me,
“These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress;
they have washed their robes
and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

“For this reason they stand before God’s throne
and worship him day and night in his temple.
The one who sits on the throne will shelter them.
They will not hunger or thirst anymore,
nor will the sun or any heat strike them.
For the Lamb who is in the center of the throne
will shepherd them
and lead them to springs of life-giving water,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Alleluia Jn 10:14

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the good shepherd, says the Lord;
I know my sheep, and mine know me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Jn 10:27-30

Jesus said:
“My sheep hear my voice;
I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.
No one can take them out of my hand.
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all,
and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand.
The Father and I are one.”