My sheep hear my voice; I know them and they follow me. John 10:27

My morning meditations are the times I set aside to listen for the voice of Jesus. However valiant my efforts, though, I spend most of the time listening to the noise in my own head and spiraling off into distractions over plans for the coming day, replaying events of the previous day, figuring out finances or relationships or even letting the cat out. It can seem that I am wasting my time and would be better served by getting an extra half hour of sleep. But when I have complained of this to my spiritual directors, they have reassured me that my time is not wasted.  Indeed, St Paul tells us, "we do not know how to pray … but the Spirit itself intercedes" (Romans 8:26).

So in dedicating myself to my half hour of effort each morning, I am giving the Spirit opportunity to intercede so that Jesus will know me, and I will manage to follow him more than I stray.

Aileen O'Donoghue

O Holy Spirit of God, awaken me to God's voice deep within me and pray in me when I cannot pray.

I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me … I will lay down my life for my sheep. John 10: 14-15

As a child, the first piece of Scripture I ever memorized was Psalm 23.  Those  first five words, "The Lord is my shepherd," are so engrained in my memory that I cannot imagine not knowing them.  Growing up as a city kid, I didn't have many opportunities to see either sheep or shepherds, but I have known for a long time that I had a relationship with Christ like that of a sheep to its shepherd.

Within that relationship resides the beauty of our faith. For our faith is not blind, nor is it childish and irrational belief in something that cannot be seen. Our faith is alive and as real as a shepherd sitting on an ancient hillside, his hand on the napes of our necks and his eyes never resting as he scans the flock in search of danger. Our faith is about this kind and ever-loving shepherd who has claimed us for his own, knows us by name and has, in fact, already sacrificed his life for our own.

Lord, be my shepherd and my guide.

Steve Givens