April 13 Sunday Reflection: Day by Day

“…the sheep follow Him, because they recognize his voice.”
–John 10:4

Readings:
Acts 2:14a, 36-41
Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6(1)
1 Peter 2:20b-25
John 10:1-10

When does the sheep recognize the shepherd’s voice? After so listening to it over and over. How does the sheep listen to the shepherd’s voice again and again? By being with the shepherd day by day.

When my wife and I were starting as a couple, we groped with how to deal with each other as two different persons coming from different worlds, with different tastes and different moods. But because we love each other and wanted to continue doing so forever, we got to know each other better.

She now knows my favorite food. I know her favorite TV program. She knows my sleeping patterns. I know her bathroom ethics. But we didn’t learn all these in one night. We stayed on together- day by day.

Though we still continue to discover new things, we now know each other quite well. We can even tell what the other is feeling just by the tone of one’s voice!

You want to recognize God’s voice? Then stay with Him. Day by day. Talk to each other. Walk together. Go through thick and thin together. And you’ll see how listening to His voice becomes clearer and following Him becomes pure joy!
-Alvin Barcelona

Reflection:
If listening to God’s voice has become difficult for you, you may want to ask, how long have I been staying with Him? Or have you been straying away?

Prayer:
Day by day, Oh dear Lord thee things I pray: To see Thee more clearly, love Thee more dearly, follow Thee more nearly, day by day.