The other day a friend called to ask if I had heard a particular bit of news. My first reaction was that she was joking as I had shared that same news with her just the other day. Then I was puzzled by why she had not heard what I had shared. We had a good laugh and then moved on to other topics.
This encounter with my friend came to mind as I pray with the readings from today. Praying and singing Psalm 95 has always been so meaningful for me: If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. I could not imagine a time when I would harden my heart to God’ voice. But now I realize that hearing the voice of God does not just happen in times of joy and gratitude and prayer.
Can I hear God when I am overscheduled with work and family responsibilities? Can I hear God in the needs of a friend, colleague or neighbor? Can I hear the voice of God when I am fearful, jealous, conceited, judgmental, tired? The very times I need to carefully listen to God are the times my actions and lack of attention essentially harden my heart.
In the first reading from Jeremiah God names what a hardened heart looks like: When you speak all these words to them, they will not listen to you either; when you call to them, they will not answer you. And in the Gospel from Luke, Jesus speaks to the importance of putting God first in all we do: Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
This Lent I pray for the grace to be open to hear the voice of God. The first section of the prayer Teach Me To Listen by John Veltri, SJ is a wonderful meditation: Teach me to listen, O God, to those nearest me, my family, my friends, my co-workers. Help me to be aware that no matter what words I hear, the message is, “Accept the person I am. Listen to me.”
Listening to the voice of God opens my heart to what truly matters. Do you hear me?