Are We Listening?

In the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ, a voice from Heaven said: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him” [Matthew 17:5]. Are we listening?

Do we take time out of our busy day to sit in prayerful silence and listen to our Lord? We should welcome the silence and stillness that come to our lives. We can use that quiet time to draw nearer to our Savior.

With all the challenges and unrest we face today, we need to be as close as we possibly can to our Lord. Therefore, where are we? The closer we are, the easier it is to listen. The farther away we are, the harder it is to listen.

So What Are We Doing?

Right now the problems in our world seem to be worsening. Is it because fewer people are listening to our Lord? Consider the saying: when all else fails, follow directions. Time and again, the human race has proven it cannot achieve peace without God’s help.

God tells us to listen to His Son. Jesus Christ has the answers! Christ is the Living Word of God! He gives us the direction we need to live in peace. When we follow our Savior’s teachings and prayerful exercises, we have the fortitude to give voice to faith, hope, and love. Are we listening? Are we following His direction?

To listen, we must be open— “Ephphatha!” That was Christ’s direction when He opened the ears of the deaf man. “He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and [the] mute speak” [Mark 7:37]. Yes, Christ does ALL things well. He won’t let us down. We let ourselves down when we do not listen to Him; when we do not trust Him; and when we close ourselves off from Him.

Listen and Believe

Consider the apostles. They listened. They knew Christ would suffer, die, and rise from the dead. But they still doubted. Jesus rebuked them “for their unbelief and hardness of heart because they had not believed those who saw him after he had been raised” [Mark 16:14]. Hardening of the heart occurs over time and we may not realize it as it happens. All the more reason to stay close to Jesus.

If we find it difficult to be open, Mary our Blessed Mother will help us. Mary listened and believed with a loving heart, opening the way for Christ to be born for our salvation. “Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled,” said Cousin Elizabeth to Mary at the Visitation [Luke 1:45].

Mary shows us when we follow our Lord’s direction we receive graces and blessings that we are meant to share in our daily living. Consider the changing of water into wine at the Wedding Feast at Cana. Mary said to the wine servers, “Do whatever he tells you” [John 2:5]. The wine servers participated in Christ’s first miracle by listening and following Jesus’ instruction just as Mary called on them to do.

In essence Christ gave the early disciples a taste of heaven’s graces. Jesus “so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him” [John 2:11]. Therefore, let us cast aside our doubts and make room for Jesus in our hearts. Because through Him, with Him and in Him, we have God the Father and Holy Spirit. Then let us listen and do whatever He tells us. Our lives will be better for it. Amen.