Acts 13:14, 43-52
Rev 7:9, 14b-17
Jn 10:27-30

In All Ways
In the mid 1970’s a new liturgical hymn came out from the St. Louis Jesuits called “Be Not Afraid.” I liked the hymn then and I continue to find it comforting now. The words are based on Isaiah 43. In this hymn God promises that we will never be alone in anything that we face in life, whether we pass through raging water, or fire or learning to do something in a new way.

One line says, “I go before you always, come follow me…” In the gospel reading for April 29th, Jesus uses the metaphor of the shepherd to connect to his listeners. He says to them that the sheep know the voice of the shepherd. Not only do they recognize and know this voice, more importantly they follow that voice and by following the shepherd they shall live.

I don’t know about you, but I have times when I really need to trust this message of Jesus and I need help to do so. In the hymn, Be Not Afraid and in scripture we are told that God goes before us always or all ways. It is this God who calls to us in both the old tried and true ways of walking the gospel and in the news ways. Today or next week, let this God who will let no one take us from this guiding hand, strengthen each of us in all the ways that we are called to live the Good News.