Listen This Lent

The Lenten season is the perfect time to listen. Listening to God in the silence and listening to others around us helps us to be unselfish as we put others’ needs before our own. This is a true act of charity.

In a motivational quote on this topic, Saint Mother Teresa says: “It is not enough for us to say: I love God, but I do not love my neighbor.” St. John says you are a liar if you say you love God and you don’t love your neighbor. How can you love God whom you do not see, if you do not love your neighbor whom you see, whom you touch, with whom you live.” (1 John 4:20)

Think of the second Joyful Mystery of the Most Holy Rosary: the Visitation. In this mystery, the Blessed Virgin Mary made haste to be with her cousin Elizabeth. What a beautiful moment they both shared! St. John the Baptist leapt in Elizabeth’s womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit as she told this to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Mary listened to Elizabeth and proclaimed the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55).

It is in this Mystery that we see a joyous visit between two cousins who are really listening to each other with their hearts and not just their ears.

All our moments with each other should be like this where we pay attention to the person right in front of us and listen with our hearts. Whether we are at the grocery store or work, we should show that we care for our neighbor. There are many ways to do this.

One way to show that we care for our neighbor is to call a loved one. It is this very act that gives us the opportunity to hear that person’s thoughts. Once we hear what they have to say, we can take that to prayer and include it in our intentions at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass or in the silence of our hearts. We are not just hearing their words, but we are placing their needs in God’s hands so He may do what is best with the situation your loved one faces.

Another way to truly listen is when we interact with a stranger. When we are out and about, we meet many faces we do not know. It is important that we first show them kindness and then listen to them and give the kind of answer that would be helpful to them. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to treat others the way we want to be treated.

I have written about how we can listen to others, but what about God? Sacred Scripture gives us the answer.

“‘(But) take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words.” (Matthew 6: 1-7)

Saint John Vianney also shed light on the matter as well. He said, “One need not say much to pray well.”

However, now that we know how we must pray, there is still one question we need to ponder. Are we prepared to hear God’s response? In some cases, He may give  an answer we did not consider or do not like. However, it is our job as Catholics to be open to His direction. We must always say, “Thy Will be done,” at the end of every prayer, because God is in control and we are not. He created us, died for us, and keeps us in existence every day. He truly does know what is best for our lives and the lives of others.

In the end, let us remember that by listening more – not just in Lent, but every day – we become more like Jesus. So, let us become the people God wants us to be by listening to God and one another.