GETTING CALLS

How are you called?   Do you get calls on your I-Phone or on your land line?  Do you know who is calling you before you answer because you have caller ID, or do you immediately recognize the one who is calling when he/she greets you on the phone? When the phone rings, my mother looks at her TV screen, which displays the name and number of the caller, to see who is calling her before she answers the phone.  How do you know when God is calling you and how do you recognize his voice?
There are many call stories in scripture:  the call of Abraham; the call of the prophets; the call of the disciples; and the call of St. Paul, just to name a few.  Today's Gospel from John 10:27-30 is just a small portion of the Good Shepherd passages.  Jesus says, "My sheep hear my voice...and they follow me."  We can hear his voice through prayer and reflection, through scripture or in song, through other people or in spiritual readings, or by being still and silent.  Something in these may strike our hearts that gives us joy or peace, enlightenment or comfort.  It can fill us with deep love.
Jesus, our Shepherd, has a love deeper than ours.  I was caught by the line, "My Father who has given them to me...and no one can take them out of the Father's hand."  We are a gift given to Jesus by the Father.  His love, mercy, and compassion will always keep us close to his heart because we are precious gifts to him.  No one and nothing will take us out of His hands.  We are Christ's forever.
Today is World Day of Prayer for Vocations.  Please continue to pray that more men and women will listen to the voice of the Shepherd to follow him in the vocations to the priesthood and religious life.  If you feel that you may have a religious vocation and want to talk about it, get in touch with me at s.lfusco@ssjerie.org. 

LOVE AND FOLLOW CHRIST

In today's Gospel from John 14:23-29, we find the disciples fishing after the death and resurrection of Jesus. When Jesus first called the disciples, they were fishermen, and he told them to follow him and they will be catching men and women.  Jesus has died, and resurrected and still they go back to what they know, fishing for fish.
Jesus calls out to them from the shore.  The Beloved Disciple recognizes and believes that it is Jesus before any of the others.  I have read that whenever Peter and the Beloved Disciple are together, he is the one who believes first.  One example was when they ran to the empty tomb.  Scripture says that the Beloved Disciple out ran Peter and saw the empty tomb first and believed.  The love of the Beloved Disciple enables him to believe.  Like him, our faith must be rooted in love.  When the disciples got to shore, Jesus had bread and fish for them.  He gave them the bread and fish just as he had given bread and fish to the crowd then gave the Bread of Life discourse.  Once again Jesus is showing the disciples and us that he is the Bread of Life.

Next, Jesus asks Peter three times, "Peter, do you love me."  Peter answers, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."  Each time Jesus directs Peter to tend to his flock and to follow him.  Who are the ones Jesus is asking us to tend?  Jesus continues to be present to us and feed us in the Eucharist.  With love we are also called to follow him.  Where do we, who believe and love Christ, bring his love to others?  How are we Eucharist for others?

DO NOT BE AFRAID

What are your fears?  Many people have different fears in their lives.  Some fears always remain with us and some fears we outgrow.  Fear can cause stress, sleepless nights, and other health problems.  While therapists, doctors, counselors, and others can help us manage our fears, we can always look in scripture.
In the reading from the Revelations and in the Gospel reading in today's liturgy we heard the words, "Do not be afraid."  John in a vision on the island of Patmos saw the resurrected Christ.  After falling over from shock at seeing Christ, John heard him say, "Do not be afraid.  Write down what you have seen."  Then in the Gospel reading, the apostles were in the upper room and Jesus appeared to them saying, "Do not be afraid. Receive the Holy Spirit..."   
Without counting for myself, I have heard that there are 365 places in scripture where the words, "Fear not," or "Do not be afraid" appear.  For me, trusting in God who loves me can help me through my fears. I can sit still and talk to Jesus or Mary.  I can pray and journal through something.  There are songs based on scripture that tell me not to be afraid, and when needed, I can talk to someone who I know cares and listens.
At Baptism we were given an "indelible mark" which says we belong to Christ.  Therefore, we can get our courage, strength, and hope from him.  He is the one we can always turn to.  We don't need an appointment.  We just have to show up.