How do I discern the voice of Jesus when I am surrounded by a cacophony of voices?
Here’s how: The voice of Jesus prompts me to love, forgive, let go, help out, be generous. The voice of Jesus calls me to peace, nonviolence, reconciliation, compassion. The voice of Jesus comforts, heals, reassures, encourages.
May I listen to the voice of Jesus. May my voice echo his.
Jesus said: “My sheep hear my voice;
I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27
Rembrandt (1606-1669)
Christ Resurrected
Oil on canvas, 1661
Munich, Alte Pinakothek
Like Mary, I am going in search of Jesus. The path is sometimes dark with pain and sorrow, uncertainty and discouragement, suffering and anxiety. What I bring with me—hope, love, faith, compassion, kindness, respect, forgiveness, peace—is what I am searching for. I follow the way, even in darkness, to find the Way.
On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. John 20:1
James Tissot (1836-1902)
Le vigneron et le figuier
opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper, between 1886 and 1894
Brooklyn Museum
Rooting ourselves in prayer, meditation on God’s Word, and conscious awareness of God’s presence in each moment and in all of creation, we allow God, the Master Gardener, to cultivate our hearts and minds to bear the fruits of peace, joy, forgiveness, compassion, justice, acceptance, and love.
[Jesus told them this parable:] “[The gardener] said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.’” Luke 13:8-9
Alexander Andreyevich Ivanov (1806-1858)
Head of St. John the Baptist
oil on paper mounted on canvas, 1837-1857
Tretyakov Gallery
At any point in our temporal history, the Word of God may come to us and lead us to become prophetic witnesses to the presence of God in our midst.
The Word of God may call us to speak out against prejudice, greed, and violence, and point the way to acceptance, generosity, and peace.
The Word of God may show us how to let go of resentment, self-centeredness, and arrogance, and teach us the way of forgiveness, service to those in need, and humble awareness of our dependence on God.
The Word of God may clarify our purpose in life: to love God, ourselves, and our neighbors, to bring comfort to the afflicted, to use our gifts and talents in the service of God’s whole human family.
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar… during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert. Luke 3:1, 2
Lucas Cranach the Elder, 1472-1553
Christ Blessing the Children
oil on panel, 1537
Kraków, Wawel Castle
Today I will let the child in me accept God’s kingdom of peace, love, compassion, and comfort with wonder, delight, joy, and awe.
And with the knowing that I am blessed and welcome.
[Jesus said to them,] “Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.” Then he embraced [the children] and blessed them, placing his hands on them. Mark 10:15-16
![Tita Gori (1870-1941) Jésus-Christ entouré de disciples et d'une sainte femme Collection privée By Jean-Marc Pascolo (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tableau_de_Tita_Gori,_J%C3%A9sus-Christ_entour%C3%A9_de_disciples_et_d'une_sainte_femme.jpg)
Tita Gori (1870-1941)
Jésus-Christ entouré de disciples et d’une sainte femme
Collection privée
By Jean-Marc Pascolo (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Jesus is the unifying force of all those who believe in the holy power of his name.
[Jesus replied,] “There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me.”
James Tissot (1836-1902)
Jésus et le petit enfant
opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper, between 1886 and 1894
Brooklyn Museum
Imagine the arms of Jesus around me.
Respectful. Comforting. Loving. Gentle. Protective. Reassuring. Encouraging. Peace-giving.
Am I willing to receive each of God’s children in the name of Jesus with respect, comfort, gentleness, protection, reassurance, encouragement, and peace?
Taking a child, [Jesus] placed it in the their midst, and putting his arms around it, he said to them, “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.” Mark 9:36-37
Ottheinrich-Bibel, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
Blatt 55v: Heilung des Taubstummen, Mk 7,31-37
ca.1425-1430
Jesus touches my ears and I hear the cries of those who are grieving, discouraged, abused, abandoned, ignored, scorned, in need of shelter, love, and comfort.
Jesus touches my tongue and I speak out plainly in support of those who need hope, justice, faith, peace, encouragement, and compassion.
Jesus is not afraid to touch those in need.
Am I?
[Jesus] put his finger into the man’s ears
and, spitting, touched his tongue;
then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him,
“Ephphatha!”— that is, “Be opened!” —
And immediately the man’s ears were opened,
his speech impediment was removed,
and he spoke plainly. Mark 7:33-35
Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?” Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” John 6: 67-68
I’ve heard “love thy neighbor as thyself” and “forgive seventy times seven times” and “Peace be with you”—words of eternal life spoken by Jesus.
How can I turn away without betraying my birthright as a child of God made in the image and likeness of God’s love?
James Tissot (1836-1902)
La multiplicité des pains, between 1886 and 1894
opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper
Brooklyn Museum
The Word of God teaches me to be bread for those who are hungry for kindness, encouragement, compassion, and love.
The Word of God teaches me to eat the bread of forgiveness, reconciliation, peace, and nonviolence.
The Word of God teaches me that the Lord is the bread that gives me the nourishment to love my neighbor as myself, welcome strangers, feed the hungry, and visit the sick.
[Jesus said:] “It is written in the prophets: They shall all be taught by God.” John 6:45a
Mary Ann McSweeny 