Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Easter
OR Optional Memorial of Our Lady of Fatima
John 10:22-30
Walking in the Freedom of Faith
“My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27)

The Church celebrates the 108th anniversary of the apparition of Our Lady to three children in Fatima. The Message of Fatima is still relevant for today’s world and the Church – to pray for the conversion of the world and for world peace.

During this Easter Octave, we continue to encounter the Risen Christ who walks among us and calls each of us by name. In the Gospel, the people press Jesus, saying, “If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” Jesus responds, not with a new revelation, but with a gentle reminder: “I told you, and you do not believe.”

Faith is not simply about receiving new information—it’s about opening our hearts to Jesus, recognising His voice, and following where He leads. Yet we often find it difficult to truly belong to His flock, even when we think we are already inside the gate.

What holds us back?

Sometimes, it is wealth, not just material riches, but the subtle ways we place our security in possessions, status, or comfort. Other times, it’s a rigid mindset, where we cling more to rules and control than to trust in God’s mercy. Apathy, too, can take root: a heaviness of spirit that dulls our desire for more. Or we may be burdened by worldly distractions, clerical attitudes, or even religious ideologies that complicate the simplicity of the Gospel.

All of these create noise that makes it harder to hear the voice of Jesus.

But the Risen Lord offers something radically different: freedom. A freedom that comes from listening to His voice, knowing we are loved, and choosing to follow Him—day by day, even when the path feels uncertain.

This Easter, let us ask ourselves: What is keeping me from moving forward in faith? Am I truly free to follow Jesus, or am I clinging to something else?

May the Lord grant us the courage to walk through the door that is Christ Himself, and to follow Him with joyful, trusting hearts.

© Claretian Publications, Hong Kong, China
Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica 2025