My Sheep Hear My Voice

One of the most profound truths of our faith is that God chooses us, not because of what we have done or what we offer, but purely out of His love and sovereign will. He does not call us because of strength, wisdom, or merit. He calls according to His purpose, for the fulfillment of His divine plan.

We see this clearly in the history of Israel. God did not choose the Israelites because they were powerful or impressive. In fact, they were small, vulnerable, and often unfaithful. Yet in His goodness, He chose them to receive His revelation and entrusted them with His promises. Not because they earned it, but because of His love and covenant.

This may strike us as odd, since we so often choose based on merit. I choose the best baseball player for my team, not the weakest. But God often chooses the people we would least expect. He raised up a coward like Gideon and entrusted His word to a poor speaker like Moses. Why? Because, as Paul writes, God "works all things according to the counsel of His will" (Ephesians 1:11). His plan unfolds according to His wisdom, not ours.

At the same time, divine election is not merely a privilege. It is also a responsibility. Abraham was chosen not just for his own benefit, but so that his descendants might be a light to the nations. The Law was not only a guide for Israel, but a reflection of God's justice and love meant for all people. Yet Israel often failed in that calling. The prophets continually urged them to repent and return. To be chosen does not mean we will be faithful. It simply means we are invited to be.

When Jesus came to reveal the fullness of God’s plan, a plan that included not only Israel but the entire human race, He invited His people to follow Him. Some did. Many did not. As Peter preached, the message was offered first to the children of Israel. But when it was rejected, it was shared with the Gentiles, who received it with joy.

This was shocking to the early Church. When the Holy Spirit fell upon Cornelius, it was a clear sign that the Gentiles were included in God’s saving plan. Still, many believers struggled to accept them. That is why the circumcision controversy caused Paul such distress. God's mercy reaches farther than we expect, and that same mercy reaches us.

God still calls us today, like a shepherd calling his sheep. We are free to follow or to walk away. If we respond with faith, no one can snatch us from His hand (cf. John 10:28). But He never forces love. He invites. Grace is a gift. And like any gift, it can be ignored or rejected. Salvation is offered, not imposed.

Jesus says, "My sheep hear my voice." But hearing alone is not enough. We must respond. We must open our hearts to grace and allow God to transform us into the people He created us to be.

Like Israel, we are chosen not only for ourselves, but for others. We are sent to proclaim the Gospel, to live as witnesses of joy, and to be instruments of salvation. The Holy Spirit fills us with joy, not for our own comfort, but so that we might draw others to Christ.

This calling transcends nationality, background, and status. As Paul says, we have been grafted into the people of God (Romans 11:17). We are now part of His family, His flock. John’s vision in Revelation gives us a glimpse of this great mystery: "a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the Lamb" (Revelation 7:9). This is the Church, universal, redeemed, and radiant.

But this is not something we could ever deserve. It is all gift. Christ gave Himself for us freely, completely, and sacrificially. He promises that one day, all sorrow will pass away. "They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore… for the Lamb will be their shepherd… and God will wipe every tear from their eyes" (Revelation 7:16–17).

This is not just poetic language. It is a promise. In heaven, we will see God face to face. This is what the saints have called the beatific vision: the direct and unmediated vision of God in His glory. In that moment, every longing of the human heart will be fulfilled. There will be no more suffering, no more striving, no more darkness or doubt. We will be united with the One for whom we were made. Every wound will be healed. Every tear will be wiped away by the hand of the Father. We will no longer hunger or thirst, because we will be filled forever with God Himself: Truth, Beauty, Goodness, and Love.

This is our hope, and it shapes how we love our neighbor. True love means more than kindness. It means desiring their eternal joy. Evangelization is not about pressure or argument. It flows naturally from love, an overflowing joy we cannot contain. If we have discovered the pearl of great price, how can we keep it to ourselves?

Ultimately, love is what matters most: love of God and love of neighbor. Our witness must come from a genuine desire for the good of others. Christ calls us to let our light shine. We are meant to live in such a way that others see our joy and are drawn to its source. Not because we are perfect, but because the Holy Spirit is at work in us.

So let us live as those who have been chosen, humbly, joyfully, and generously. Let us follow the Shepherd’s voice and help others do the same.