HOMILY- 4th Sunday of Easter - “The Door and the Voice” (English & Spanish versions)

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Have you ever answered a phone call from a number you didn’t recognize — and the moment you heard the voice, you knew exactly who it was? No introduction needed.

Something in the tone, the rhythm, the familiarity — it just clicked.

Jesus says in today’s Gospel, “The sheep hear his voice… he calls his own sheep by name and leads them.” The Christian life, at its heart, is not about mastering a rulebook — it’s about recognizing a voice.

In John’s Gospel, Jesus gives us two powerful images: He is both the Shepherd and the Gate. That means two things at once: He calls us personally, and He protects us completely.

He knows your name — not just the version of you that others see, but the real you. And He stands at the entrance of your life, guarding what comes in and what leads you out.

But here’s the tension: there are many voices in our lives. Some promise success, others comfort, others power, others approval.

And not all of them lead to life.

Jesus is blunt: “Whoever does not enter through the gate is a thief and a robber.” Not every voice deserves your trust.

So how do we recognize His voice?

Look at the first reading from Acts of the Apostles. Peter stands up, filled with the Holy Spirit, and speaks clearly: “God has made both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

The people are cut to the heart.

That’s one sign of the Shepherd’s voice — it pierces, it challenges, it calls us to change. It’s not always comfortable, but it is always truthful.

And what do they do? They ask, “What are we to do?”

And Peter answers: “Repent and be baptized.” In other words: turn around and come in through the door. Three thousand people walked through that gate that day — not into a building, but into a whole new way of life.

Then we hear from 1st Peter: “By his wounds you have been healed.”

This is the second sign of the Shepherd’s voice — it heals.

Jesus does not drive us with fear; He leads us with love, even love that suffers. “When he was insulted, he returned no insult.” The Shepherd doesn’t shout us into obedience — He draws us in by example.

So here is the question for us today: Which voice are you following?

The voice that tells you that you are only as valuable as your successes?

The voice that tells you to hold onto resentment and anger?

The voice that says you must carry your burdens alone?

Or the voice that calls you by name, that tells you that you are loved, and invites you to walk through Him into life?

Jesus says, “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” Not just survival. Not just getting by. Abundant life.

But abundance begins with a decision: to trust the voice, and to step through the door.

Today, maybe that means repentance — letting go of something that is not leading to life.

Maybe it means listening more intentionally in prayer.

Maybe it means trusting that even in suffering, the Shepherd is still leading you.

Because here is the truth: you are not wandering alone.

You are known.
You are called.
And the gate is open.

  

Homilía – IV Domingo de Pascua–“La Voz y la Puerta

¿Alguna vez te ha llamado alguien desde un número desconocido, y en cuanto escuchas la voz sabes inmediatamente quién es? No hace falta presentación. Hay algo en la voz que se reconoce al instante.

Jesús nos dice hoy en el Evangelio: “Mis ovejas escuchan mi voz… yo las llamo por su nombre.” La vida cristiana no se trata principalmente de reglas, sino de reconocer una voz.

En el evangelio de san Juan hoy, Jesús se presenta como el Pastor y también como la Puerta. Es decir, Él nos conoce personalmente y también nos protege completamente.

Él sabe tu nombre, conoce tu historia, tus luchas, tus heridas. Y Él es la entrada segura hacia la vida verdadera.

Pero hay un problema: en nuestra vida hay muchas voces. Voces que prometen felicidad fácil, éxito rápido, placer inmediato… pero no todas llevan a la vida. Jesús lo dice claramente: los que no entran por la puerta son ladrones.

Entonces, ¿cómo reconocer la voz de Cristo?

En la primera lectura de los Hechos do los Apósteles, Pedro habla con valentía, y la gente queda “compungida de corazón”. Esa es una señal de la voz de Dios: toca el corazón, incomoda, nos invita a cambiar. No siempre es fácil, pero siempre es verdad.

Y ellos preguntan: “¿Qué debemos hacer?”

Pedro responde: “Conviértanse y bautícense.” Es decir: cambien de dirección y entren por la puerta. Ese día, miles aceptaron la invitación.

Luego, en la primera carta del apóstol san Pedro, escuchamos: “Por sus heridas ustedes han sido curados.” Esta es otra señal de la voz del Buen Pastor: sana.

Jesús no nos obliga, no nos empuja con miedo; nos atrae con amor, con un amor que llega hasta la cruz.

Hoy la pregunta es muy concreta: ¿Qué voz estás siguiendo?

¿La voz que te dice que no vales suficiente?

¿La voz que te invita al rencor o al egoísmo?

¿La voz que te hace creer que estás solo?

¿O la voz de Cristo que te llama por tu nombre, que te ama, que te guía?

Jesús dice: “Yo he venido para que tengan vida, y la tengan en abundancia.” No una vida mediocre, sino plena, verdadera.

Pero esa vida comienza con una decisión: escuchar su voz y atravesar la puerta.

Tal vez hoy necesitas convertirte de algo concreto.

Tal vez necesitas volver a la oración y aprender a escuchar.

Tal vez necesitas confiar en medio del sufrimiento.

Recuerda esto: no estás perdido.
Eres conocido.
Eres amado.
Y la puerta está abierta.