The Sheepfold and the Voice of the Shepherd

Stone sheepfold John 10:22-30 Recently my boys have been spending a great deal of time outside in the area that will soon be transformed into our garden. They spend endless hours digging in the dirt for worms. They then promptly take those worms and throw them to the chickens. It amazes me how even chickens can learn to recognize sounds or voices. My oldest makes this funny high-pitched sound when he comes out of the house and heads toward the coop. The chickens practically fall over themselves running toward the fence or out of the coop when they hear him making his sound. They know there is food to follow! In Sunday's Gospel Jesus tells us that, "My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me." and "I am the gate for the sheep." Today, again, Jesus mentions that His sheep know His voice and follow Him.  In these few verses we learn that Jesus is both gate and shepherd for the sheep. In those days and even today in some places, a sheepfold w

The Smallest Act of Love

The Kingdom of God,
Starts very small,
Like mustard seed or yeast.
Yet when it grows it changes all,
the greatest from which was least.

Our efforts seem,
To no avail,
Or seem to take too long.
Yet when we see the good that's grown,
Happily we are wrong.

Your task it is,
To sow the seed,
To be tiny leaven.
By action, deed, prayer, and thoughts,
Help others on to heaven.

Be not discouraged by failure,
Or slow imperceptible growth.
It is the smallest act of love,
That changes the world the most.

From The Last Dragon and Other Poems by James M. Hahn

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