SO often, when reading the prophets of the Old Testament we see these words: “The Word of the Lord was addressed to me…” or “It is the Lord who speaks…”.
Frequently, the message received is personal and direct.
A recent example for me was a message conveyed through the prophet Haggai: “Now thus says the Lord of hosts: Reflect on your experience… rebuild the house…” (1:5, 8).
The scripture spoke to me, to pause and reflect on my journey, how things have gone for me, am I doing all I can do in my quest to serve God by serving others, through the effective use of the gifts, talents and skills given by the Spirit?
“Rebuild the house …” spoke to me of the need to enter deeply within, to discern what more I can do, to be patient, trust, have faith and allow the Holy Spirit to work within.
It was a call to turn my struggles into steps towards God, instead of away from God.
All scripture is the Word of God, and it is the Lord who speaks in every line of scripture.
St Paul teaches: “the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).
God is always speaking to us. God speaks to our minds and hearts.
God enters directly into our thoughts and desires.
God uses the Bible to speak, guide and inspire. It may be in the quiet of a room as we pray, or in other ways.
God may speak to us in our dreams, through quiet contemplation, nature, music, children, the Mass, a book we are reading, or through people we encounter daily.
God is constantly speaking to us.
In the Parable of the Sower (Mark 4:1-20), Jesus explains that the seed is the word and “those who have been sown in rich soil; they hear the word and accept it and yield a harvest, thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.”
Jesus goes on: “Anyone who has ears for listening should listen.” (v23).
There are reasons we don’t hear God’s voice in our lives.
Sometimes we don’t want to hear.
Or we don’t hear because we are too busy putting our own needs first.
Perhaps we feel we are not worthy of God’s time and love. Why would God want to talk to us?
Often, we simply don’t recognise God’s voice because of the “busyness” of our lives.
We can be so focused on everything else we fail to hear God’s gentle whisper in our hearts.
We can be so busy being busy we miss it even when God is screaming our names, trying to get our attention.
That can change by listening to and learning from God’s voice.
Just as our children listen to us when they are babies, we too must take baby steps. Thankfully God, a patient and loving Father, is willing to teach us slowly if necessary. After all, God is the God of second chances.
Having “ears for listening” symbolises active listening, being receptive to information, and being open-minded.
It emphasises the importance of truly hearing and comprehending what is being communicated, rather than just passively hearing sounds.
When we keep our “ears open,” we demonstrate a willingness to listen attentively, consider different perspectives, and absorb knowledge and wisdom from others – in this case from the word of God.
Listening encourages us to be discerning, critical thinkers who evaluate the information we receive and make informed judgments.
It emphasises the value of being intellectually and emotionally engaged, actively seeking knowledge, and developing a Spirit-inspired understanding of the word of God.
English journalist and satirist Malcolm Muggeridge wrote, “Every happening great and small is a parable whereby God speaks to us, and the art of life is to get the message.”
The Book of Proverbs teaches, “The ear that hears, the eye that sees—the Lord has made them both”(20:12).
The Prophet Isaiah says: “The eyes of those who see will not be closed; the ears of those who hear will be attentive”(32:3).
It can be easy to rush through life without stopping to notice much.
Research is finding more and more that paying more attention to the present moment – to our own thoughts and feelings, and to the world around us – can improve our mental wellbeing.
Becoming more aware of the present moment, means noticing the sights, smells, sounds and tastes that we experience, as well as the thoughts, feelings and sensations that occur from one moment to the next.
Attention is intentional.
Are you listening with the ears of your heart to hear the word of the Lord addressed to you?
Have a golden day and treasure life.
Terry Lees is a member of the Mount Isa Catholic parish.
