Jesus walks close by our side
Voice control and voice recognition are part of many modern devices.
Today’s cars, computers and smart phones have voice control. But have you ever tried to use them?
Because it seems to me that there is a dreadful prejudice against Scottish and Polish accents in all these devices.
No matter how much you try, till your blue in the face it refuses to believe you’re speaking English.
Every time I tell my phone to call home it simply refuses to cooperate, or worse still it phones directory inquires instead!
I’m sure there is a small fortune to be made in an app for Scottish Voice Recognition software. Having been here for seven years, I’m certainly developing a lovely Scottish twang, so I have a vested interest in the development of such technology.
In the Gospel too, voice recognition is important, in the famous Gospel of the Good Shepherd in St John’s Gospel when Jesus says: “The Sheep that belong to me listen to my voice.”
To those who have faith the voice of Christ, the Good Shepherd is clear and powerful.
It guides us through life, but the Good Shepherd does not promise an easy passage, free from the difficulties and problems of life. Like others we must face the trials of life but never alone, for we are always in safekeeping of Christ, the Good Shepherd.
But sometimes it is difficult for us to hear the voice of Christ; so many things vie for our attention and get in the way of what’s truly important. And besides, that listening isn’t an easy skill to hone and maintain in our crowded lives and busy world.
Often our hearts and minds are so taken up and preoccupied that we find little time for the stillness and recollection we need to listen and pay attention.
The Buddhist masters call this “monkey mind” that darts from one thing to another and is never at rest, just like the monkey swinging from the branch to branch in a forest.
And even when we come to church or sit friends or take our place with family at table, it’s really difficult for us to be attentive to each other, to simply listen and be there because our thoughts and attention are elsewhere. Sometimes the most important gift we can give to each other is the gift of our whole presence and full attention.
In a similar way if we really want God to be present in our lives, then we need to be present to him: making time for prayer, allowing stillness and silence to quieten our minds and then invite God’s word in the scripture to speak to us.
God does have something important to say, something that will enrich and bless our life, something that will help and comfort us, bringing wisdom, knowledge, courage and love. But for that to happen we need to have open ears and attentive hearts.
“Those who belong to me listen to my voice” Christ says. Jesus Good Shepherd does indeed speak to us when we open ourselves to him; he walks close by our side when we care to pay attention to him.