These beautiful sheep live about an hour away, at our local monastery.   At a recent visit, our dear Abbess told us a story of how these sheep have really brought the Gospel to life, even for the nuns.  It is that

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27).

This summer at their annual summer camp, they taught a beautifully enlightening and memorable hands on lesson to the children about Christ – the Good Shepherd, and how He truly knows His sheep and the sheep know Him Who gives them eternal life.  They brought this parable to life to the kids about how the sheep will not follow the voice of the hireling, who does not lay down his life for the sheep.

The nuns brought the children to the sheep and each and every one of the campers called the sheep in exactly the same way as the shepherd at the monastery does.

Do you know what?  Those sheep were not fooled.  They did not respond to the kids, not a one of them.  But when the sister shepherd voice they know called to them, all the sheep ran to her – every one.

This is a treasure lesson these kids will never forget.  We are all sheep in a world offering many voices but only One is the Good Shepherd.  May it always be that we hear and respond to His Voice.