Day 25—Wednesday, March 18

John 10:1-6

“Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.

LISTEN to the SHEPHERD’S VOICE. Discernment is a challenge when loud, demanding, and conflicting voices shout out for our allegiance. How do we discern the voice of our Shepherd, Jesus Christ, who stands at the gate waiting to lead us out into the world? Below are scriptures/themes (the very voice of God the Father and Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd) that provide guidance. Note the overlapping messages.

WHAT DOES THE LORD REQUIRE OF US? But to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8.

• WE ARE ALL CREATED IN GOD’S IMAGE. Genesis 1:2: So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them, male and female he created them.

• TREAT ALL PEOPLE AS GOD’S CHILDREN. Matthew 25:44-45: “Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help?” He will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.”

• ACT WITH JUSTICE TOWARD ALIENS. Jeremiah 22:3: Do what is just and right…Do no wrong or violence to the alien.

• WALK IN HUMILITY. Philippians 2:3: Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but with humility count others more significant than yourselves. • TREAT OTHERS WITH KINDNESS. Corinthians 13:4: Love is patient and kind, love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant.

• LOVE YOUR ENEMIES. Do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Luke 6:27-28.

• MAKE PEACE. Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers.

• SPEAK THE TRUTH. These are the things you shall do: Speak the truth to one another, render in our gates judgments that are true and make for peace. Zachariah 8:16.

I understand that sheep are rather ‘’simple-minded” animals. I found a “simple” Buddhist teaching, filled with wisdom that spoke to me of discernment. I share it because I believe it embodies the guidance found in Holy Scriptures.

There’s an old Buddhist teaching known as the Kalama Sutta that offers a timeless reminder: Don’t accept ideas simply because they are traditional, popular, repeated by authority, or followed by many. Examine them for yourself. Ask instead:

Does this way of thinking reduce suffering—or increase it?

Does it lead to compassion—or cruelty?

Does it create peace—or division? If a belief encourages harm, exclusion, fear, or violence, then no matter how old, widespread, or confidently preached it is, it has failed the test of wisdom. Any ideology that teaches you to look down on others, justify harm, or silence empathy in the name of being “right” has missed its purpose entirely. Truth does not need hatred to defend it. Goodness does not require enemies. Real understanding makes you gentler. Real wisdom humbles you. Real clarity expands your capacity to see humanity in everyone. Hatred can never be holy. Cruelty can never be sacred. And Dehumanizing others can never be divine. Any belief system that makes you look down on others, harm them, exclude them, or justify violence in the name of truth has missed its purpose entirely.

Heavenly Father, we praise you for who you are - kind, compassionate, and forgiving. You are the Peacemaker, the source of Truth, the champion of Justice. Thank you that we are all children of God. We rejoice in your grace. Forgive us when we fall short of your vision for us. May we slow down, discern, then have the courage to follow the voice of the Good Shepherd as you lead us through all the days of our lives. These things we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

-Maureen Guelzow