Acts 2:14, 36-41 / 1 Peter 2:20-25 / John 10:1-10
The animals in this world are, by and large, beautiful as well as amazing.
And they also have peculiarities that we have heard of, or have experienced it.
For example, don’t ever wear red-colour clothes and stand in front of a bull.
We don’t want to see those horns coming fast at us.
And also don’t approach a horse from the back. We just might get a kick of our lives.
As for good eyesight, it goes to the birds, especially the eagles and the hawks.
They can spot a prey from distances of three to five kilometres.
As for the sense of smell, it goes to the dogs. A lady wanted to bring some bak-kwa for her daughter who was studying in a country that bans cooked meats.
So, she wrapped the bak-kwa with layers and layers of plastic, thinking that it can pass through the customs.
But at the immigration, the sniffer dog went sniffing at the luggage, and then just sat on her luggage.
She had to surrender the bak-kwa.
When it comes to sheep, we may not know much about their peculiarities, although we know that wool comes from sheep.
But we have heard about two of their characteristics, and that is their sense of hearing, and their silence, even in the face of mortal danger.
In today’s gospel, Jesus says that He is the gate of the sheepfold.
He goes on to say that the sheep listen to the voice of the shepherd.
The shepherd leads his sheep, and the sheep follow him because they know the shepherd’s voice.
The sheep never follow a stranger, but run away from him.
They do not recognise the voice of strangers.
Today, the Church celebrates Good Shepherd Sunday, with an emphasis on the promotion of vocations to the priesthood and also to the religious life.
Yes, the harvest is rich but the labourers are few, and we have to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to His harvest.
The Lord of the harvest has called labourers to work in His harvest.
Many are called, but not that many have responded.
One of the reasons that not that many have responded is because the world has many loud noises.
These noises are loud, and even attractive, and they appeal to human desires and pleasures.
Yes, we desire to be rich, famous, popular, successful and to have a high status in life.
With these comes the benefits of pleasures and luxuries of gratification, although it may be momentary.
And those cravings for pleasures and desires are like a bottomless pit; there can never be enough of it.
In the midst of all these loud noises is that soft and gentle voice of the Good Shepherd, calling out to the chosen labourers of His sheepfold.
More often than not, as well as in most cases, the voice of the Good Shepherd is heard in Church.
The Church is the House of God and the House of prayer.
It is in Church that the voice of the Good Shepherd is heard in worship and in prayer.
And it is in worship and prayer that the chosen servants of the Lord are able to listen and respond to His call.
On the 1st June, four deacons will be ordained to the sacred order of the priesthood.
One of them, Deacon Eugene Chan, is from this parish. He was chosen from among us.
He heard the Lord’s call in Church, and it is back to the Church that he response to the call.
We pray for him as he makes his final preparation for his ordination.
We do this in the form of spiritual bouquets, and we will receive a spiritual bouquet card on our way out.
Our little spiritual offering would be a great blessing for Deacon Eugene Chan, and also for the other three deacons.
And on the 21st May, we will gather in prayer for the four deacons, and also to pray for vocations.
May those whom the Lord has called be able to listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd.
And may our prayer give them strength and courage to follow in the steps of the Good Shepherd, who came to give us life and life to the full.