May 8th, 2022 – “Voice Recognition”

Dear all,

What is generally known as Mother’s Day is designated Christian Family Sunday in the Presbyterian Church in Canada – with the idea that it includes both the families that we come from and are a part of  as well as the larger Christian family embodied by our church. An important task of both is raising the next generation.  But that can be a frightening prospect when people look at the world they will be born into. It is not hard to be pessimistic if hope depends on human beings getting their act together.

Tomorrow (May 8th) also happens to be Good Shepherd Sunday. Our gospel lesson points us in a more comforting direction. Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.”  God is sovereign and stronger than any power than might hurt or destroy,  menace or threaten them and Jesus assures us that he shares in the Father’s rule. So God’s purposes will not be thwarted. It is not all up to us and our decisions and our actions. God will prevail in drawing his creation to its appointed end.