Are We Familiar with His Voice?

(Excerpt from the Homily of Most Rev. Romulo G. Valles, D.D., during the 4th Sunday of Easter (Good Shepherd Sunday) and Rite of Investiture to Candidacy for Holy Orders, San Pedro Cathedral Parish, April 26, 2026.)

This is the 4th Sunday of the Joyous Season of Easter, and it is also nicknamed as Good Shepherd Sunday. Obvious ang reason because of readings especially of the Gospel reading. It is also called World day of Prayer for Vocations that’s why naay mga seminarians.

Christ always heard the voice of the Father. You know that, listening to the Father. And we are baptized also like Jesus, like the sheep, we should know his voice. Natong tanan, very important to know his voice. That’s why my dear friends, importante kaayo mag simba. Yes, obligation but to come to church this Sunday after Sunday, patiently, then, we become familiar with His voice.

Intawon ang pari like me today, naningkamot to explain to you a little bit. Now, I hope you say, now, medyo nakasabot na ko, that we are like sheep; dapat ang members sa flock, to believe in him, means first and foremost, to be familiar with his voice, because he calls us, he calls us by name.

Tama ang ingon sa Gospel karon, kada sheep, may tawag niya. Mao diay nay importante, to be baptized, to become part of the flock, importanteng character, makaila ta niya. Motawag siya, mosunod dayon kita.

Now, to be called by Jesus, to hear his voice of vocation. Part of the calling is not only to call us to be part of the pasture, to feed us, to lead us, to the kingdom, to the eternal pasture of the Father. Joy and peace. But the Good shepherd calls us also, along the way to particular tasks in the flock, He calls us to shepherd one another.

Kinsay mga minyo? To be fathers and mothers, vocation kana, vocs, vocary, wonderful vocation. To be sisters, consecrated life, to be priest, soon to be priest. We can only get it if we are familiar with his voice.

So the big question in fact today: daghan kaayo voices. Akong i-translate, influencers. Ah. Are we familiar with his voice?

So that second step, what is He telling me to do? Some answered to be mga madre, many of you answered to be wonderful fathers and mothers, teachers, honest businessmen. But among these, to hear His voice, medyo usa sa mga lisod tubagon: to answer His voice, to serve his people as priest and I would add, as sisters.

Good Shepherd calls us, His close to us, and we are challenged this evening also to be the Sheep were very familiar to the voice of the Shepherd; are we?

Mga igsuon, naa intawuy pipila ka mga batan on karon, ingon ta with the fathers, naka dungog siya sa calling and there is founding. That’s why we have these simple rites today to show that nagkaduol na sila sa final na pag tubag nila sa tawag sa Ginoo.

But my dear friends, this voice, this Shepherd is always present, He is always calling, each one of us, reminding us of the gift of being a member, made living members of the flock: the gift of baptism.

Again, this evening this giftedness would be shown in particular by young men who are in the final stages of the response to the call of the Lord; to be collaborators and shepherds in the church in the coming days.