Golden Years, Silver Sneakers and Discipleship
Discerning God’s Authentic Voice
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
In an age where video and audio can be altered and duplicated through Artificial Intelligence and other modern means, an authentic voice is harder than ever to recognize. Scammers, using AI, can construct a copy of a voice using just a snippet of the real one to frighten parents and grandparents into paying ransom. In one recent case, the parent could not distinguish between the real and the duplicate. Going forward, more diligence will be necessary to distinguish between what is real and what is counterfeit.
Today, we are bombarded with messages across multiple media platforms designed to influence us in one way or another. Oftentimes, a technique called a “voiceover” is employed using a celebrity having a familiar, credible voice. Imagine hearing a reassuring voice that is artificially reproduced endorsing a product or service for your consideration. This kind of advertising never actually announces the identity of the person supplying the narrative, leaving the voice itself to accomplish the task at hand.
As the number of “voices” increases in the age of information, it is only natural to assume that misinformation will increase commensurately and will include matters of faith and morals. The following pericope from the Gospel of John is reassuring, and a reminder that we have been given the gift of faith to discern God’s authentic voice through Church Teaching:
“Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber. But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.” (John 10:1-5)
Let us pray for the grace to discern the authentic voice of God, as expressed through the Catholic Church through Scripture and Tradition.
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About the Author
Deacon Greg Lambert was ordained in 1997, in the Diocese of St. Petersburg, and currently serves at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Tampa, Florida.. Deacon Greg assists in the areas of RCIA, Adult Faith Formation, and Sacramental Preparation. In addition to his service at the parish level, Deacon Greg is a staff member of Diakonia newsletter for the diaconal community of the diocese. He is also part of the teaching faculty for the Lay Pastoral Ministry Institute which has accredidation from the USCCB. His articles have been published in Deacon Digest Magazine, Catholic Stand, Diakonia and Catholic365. He has a BA in Religious Studies and an MA in Theology from St. Leo University.
