God thinks I am just a sheep

God says we are sheep - and as much as I would like to translate that into RAMS, I think it actually goes deeper than that.

My favorite reflection last week was on John 10:1-21 but more specifically verses 1-6. It is the story of the good shepherd and something struck me. Jesus is saying the sheep know the voice of their master - He calls His own sheep by name and they follow Him. A stranger they will not follow... for they know not his voice.

I started thinking about that and praying over it. It is funny... I have heard that story so many times, but I have never paid attention to the part about how the sheep know the voice of their master. I have always focused in on how the shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. But as I prayed about hearing the masters voice, I was directed to a book I have been reading, "The Way of Divine Love."

In this book, Sister Josepha has agreed to be a victim for Christ and she is PHYSICALLY beaten by the devil. She is burned, punched, thrown in closets, and she can feel the crown of thorns. She is also lied to that what she is doing is worthless and that she should not suffer for souls. Satan tried everything, but she remained faithful to God. As the book says,

"The devil tried every possible means to delude and beguile her, disguising himself as an angel of light, even going so far as to assume the very features of Jesus Christ Himself. Most often, however, he tried to turn her from her chosen path by inflicting on her grievous bodily harm."

So my question here is the same as my question to myself as I read John 10, how can I recognize the voice of my master... the voice of God? How did Sister Josepha know satan was lying and that it wasn't truly Jesus? How can I only have ears from my master's voice?

My next question is this - why would a shepherd lay down his life for a bunch of sheep?!?! They are so unworthy and cannot possibly understand the value of a human life. They are stupid animals who only sleep, eat and roam - they have no understanding of the sacrifice made when the master gives his life for them.

Furthermore, that verse says "I came that you might have life and have it abundantly." How abundant can the life of a sheep really be? Eating, sleeping, roaming, making noises here and there - some abundant life! Imagine what life would be like for a sheep if it wasn't abundant...

But this is us! We are unworthy, stupid, small, unable to repay our master or properly thank Him. Our lives are nothing compared to our Lord and to life in HEAVEN! We are probably even more unworthy than the sheep in this story because God is infinitely greater than the master - a mere human.

Because He loves us as His own, he lays down His life and protects the gate.

"I am the good shepherd. the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep."

He was not hired by the Father - it was not requested of Jesus, He chose it because we are His!

"I am the good shepherd. I now my own and my own know me." John 10:14

How great heaven must be if our lives here on earth are likened to that of a sheep!