In the fourth Sunday of Easter, World Day of Prayer for Vocations, Pope Francis referred to the the Gospel of the Good Shepherd and said that the Jesus, in the Gospel, calls us to participate in His relationship with the Father, and this is eternal life.
“Jesus wants to establish a relationship with his friends that is a reflection of His relationship with the Father, a relationship of mutual belonging in full trust, in intimate communion. To express this deep understanding, this relationship of friendship Jesus uses the image of the shepherd with his sheep: he calls them, and they know his voice, they respond to his call and follow him. How beautiful this parable is! The mystery of the voice is suggestive: from our mother’s womb we learn to recognize her voice and that of our father, from the tone of a voice we perceive love or disdain, affection or coldness. The voice of Jesus is unique! If we learn to distinguish it, He guides us on the path of life, a path that goes beyond the abyss of death.”
He continued that “sometimes Jesus calls us, invites us to follow him, but maybe we don’t realize that it is Him, just like young Samuel. Let us invoke the intercession of Mary who is the woman who said “yes.” Mary said “yes,” all her life! She has learned to recognize the voice of Jesus since she bore him in her womb. Mary, Our Mother, help us to know better the voice of Jesus and follow it, to walk the path of life!
Thank you so much for your greeting, but let us also proclaim Jesus loudly… Let us all pray together to the Virgin Mary.