Good Shepherd Sunday is a world day of prayer for vocations. Christ the Good Shepherd continues to care for God’s people through religious calling.
To hear the LORD’s voice, His call, should be our constant concern, for us, and for those we care for. Following the LORD’s voice is to find that Door that God opens for us, to the surest, quickest Way to perfection, to live in Life, abundantly. See this presentation on vocation, and vocation to Consecrated Life.

The Good Shepherd gently calls with His voice, inviting us on His Way of Life, abundant Life, full of gladness in His presence.

Yet do we want to be sheep? Of His flock?

We might value choice, even at the expense of all else.
We might value choice, even at the expense of our freedom.
To really have it ‘my way,’ is to try to avoid the path of Life we are given. Or it is to try to take for ourself, the meadows of abundant life by living waters that were set out for us in our Psalm.
It is to try to recreate, reinvent, reforge, and break new trail every day, on our own.
It is to forcefully decide… and then likely fall into indecision.
It is to forcefully commit… until this isn’t working. Where is this going?

This affects us.
This affects those around us, those that love us and depend on us.
At home, at work, in this life.
If you get lost, you can lose others.
If you cannot decide or commit… no one else can either.
Not based on your inconstant witness.

Going my way is hard to follow. It changes too much, too often.
There is no direction or sure promise here. It may not be safe.
So those around you have to go their own way, too.
They are left undecided, uncommitted, unable to trust or to follow.
They may be scattered, disappointed, fearful, isolated, at dead ends, prey for the thieves and robbers taking life.

Even worse than this, ‘taking our own way’ it taking what is God’s. We try to steal and take over for ourselves God’s call to Life, abundant Life. We might keep others from hearing God’s call and sure promise to them.
Trying to take our own way is to try to find and steal Heaven itself, for ourself.

But we know Christ is the Gate: ‘I AM the Door.’

Thanks be to God, somewhere along our own way, we might hear the Apostle’s call to repent, to return to the LORD who makes known the path of Life, full of gladness in His presence…
His promise, in the Holy Spirit, is for us, for our children, for all who are far off… The LORD calls us back to life, abundant Life.
Everyone who calls on the Name of the LORD shall be saved
(see Acts 2:14-41).

When we truly hear this, we can be cut to the heart. This cuts through our distraction, our hurt, our wearisome, isolating despair. We can return from being stray, scattered prey.
Saint Peter says, ‘save yourselves from this wayward generation.’ We cannot save ourselves. We need shepherds to show us to the Way. We need the Good Shepherd, who ‘came that you may have life, and have it abundantly.’

Following our God-given call is the most direct path to make saints, of ourselves, and of those we witness to.

If this makes us a sheep, we’re not all the same sheep. We each have our own mission from God, a particular purpose, a special call among all God’s flock, to the Glory of God.

If you are still seeking the Gate, the Door to the LORD’s Way, really listen for the voice, the call, of the Good Shepherd.
Lord, lead me to Your Way. Open Your Door for me. What is Your Will for me? Not my will, but Your Will be done.
Pray. Listen. Don’t discern forever. Listen for the Lord’s Knock on the Door. Go in, and find pasture with the Good Shepherd.

If you’re on the Way, already, by God’s Grace, following in His sheepfold… Witness, constantly, unto heaven, making saints along the Way of the Lord.
Be a good husband or wife, constantly willing the good of the other, to help make a family of saints on the Way.
Be an outstanding single person in service, in Faith, Hope, and Charity.
Be a witness as a consecrated religious, brother, sister, deacon, priest…
Be a shepherd here for this wayward generation, to guide those around you to the Good Shepherd, that they too may hear His call for them by name.
Be a witness to Life, abundant Life.

‘Almighty, ever-living God, lead us to a share in the joy of heaven, so that the humble flock may reach where the brave Shepherd has gone before‘
(Collect of Good Shepherd Sunday).