Thursday of the Third Week of Lent

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?