Do we really listen?

I find it easy sometimes to limit Jesus’s word in the world and try speak my own words. Many of us forget the it is Jesus who speaks to in the in the Sacraments and rituals of our church. For some reason, it struck me today that just like people of Jesus’ day did not recognize him or hear his preaching, we are the same way. We hear what we want to hear. But he is speaking to us all the time. Through the preaching of the Pope down to the five-year-old who reminds us to be childlike in God’s sight. In every event of life, God is saying what we need to hear whether it is a message of challenge or love. Most of the time his word is spoken to us, and no one says a word. How I live out the message speaks louder than anything I speak. As a priest, I have been entrusted with preaching the Word but often I stand in front of the congregation and have to confront my own limits and the reality I may not living the life of faith the best I can. My ears can be clogged too, or I hear only what I want. God does not stop speaking to us. Our God is a patient God who only want to speak the word of Love and the word of Peace.

Lent is a time to slow down and truly listen. God speaks all the time; we just have to open our hearts.