Brothers and sisters,
In today’s Gospel, Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” These are simple words, but for us, they are everything.
Here in the Abbey of Our Lady of Silence, we have chosen a life where we might better hear that voice—not in the noise of the world, but in the stillness of prayer, in the silence between chants, in the quiet work of each day. Christ does not shout. He speaks gently, and only a quiet heart can truly listen.
But hearing is only the beginning. Jesus says, “They follow me.” That is the harder part. Following Christ means trusting that His path leads to life, even when it leads through hardship, obscurity, or surrender. It means allowing Him to guide our choices, shape our hearts, and draw us away from self-reliance into dependence on Him.
Then He makes a promise: “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand.” In a world full of uncertainty and fear, these words are our anchor. We belong to Him. No illness, no failure, no loss—nothing—can remove us from His grasp, if we remain close to Him.
This is Good Shepherd Sunday. It reminds us not only who Jesus is, but who we are: sheep of His flock, known by name, cherished beyond measure, and led—quietly but surely—toward eternal life.
May we keep listening. May we keep following. And may the silence we cherish here help us to stay near the Shepherd who never leaves us.
Amen.