Dear Parishioners of St. James:
Praised be Jesus Christ!
The voice of Jesus is the voice of the Good Shepherd. He is the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Him (Jn. 14:6). Jesus calls Himself the gate signifying that it is only through Him that we are saved. No one or nothing can save us from hell and give us heaven except Jesus Christ, our Good Shepherd.
How do we distinguish the voice of the Good Shepherd from the other many voices proposing to tell us the truth? Jesus said in today’s Gospel, “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly” (Jn. 10:10). Life is from God; murder is from the devil. It is the voice of “the thief” that says there are too many people, that killing people is the solution to our problems. Jesus came to bring us abundant life, not abundant wealth. Every human life is created by God in His image and likeness. How can there be too many images of God?
Jesus rose from the dead to destroy death and to give us everlasting life. Do not listen to voices that seek the death of human beings. The devil is a liar and murderer from the beginning (Cf. Jn. 8:44). Satan comes to steal, slaughter and destroy. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, protects the vulnerable and leads them to eternal pastures.
God bless you,
Fr. Geary
Saint James Catholic Church 