John. 10⁵They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” (NRSV)

I was watching some sheep the other day, from afar. I didn’t have time to see if Jesus was right about them. I believe he was. I have a tendency to take him at his word.

Sheep have been given a bad name. We think that they are stupid. We classify people as sheep who seem, in our estimation, to blindly follow anyone who comes along and whispers their name.

Jesus, as usual, puts things in a proper perspective. He is the Good Shepherd to whom the faithful sheep respond. They have learned to recognize his voice.

We people, on the other hand, are easily distracted. We will wander off after the first glitz that comes along because it is superficially attractive to eye or ear. In doing so, we forget or ignore the voice of our Good Shepherd and we are the worse for it.

Fortunately, wooing sheep is an ongoing concern of Jesus. He knows that even the best of sheep will be distracted but, in the end, sooner or later will return to the fold because all other Shepherds are tried and found wanting.

Lemmings, I am told, will run off willynilly and pitch themselves off cliffs. Better, I think, to be a sheep.

Forgive us, Jesus, when start to hear the voices of other shepherds. They have tasty treats, but only you feed us with the Bread of Life. Clear your throat and perk our ears that we might be reminded to follow you alone. Amen