Pray, Listen, Respond

The LORD bless you and keep you!  The LORD let his face shine upon you and be gracious to you!  The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace!

After the Baptism of the Lord and the Christmas season ends in the Church, we return to ‘Ordinary Time’.  All this means is that we are between ‘Seasons’ of the Liturgical Year (Lent, Easter, Pentecost, Advent, Christmas).  Since the Baptism of the Lord ends the Christmas season, it is also known as the First Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Reading and praying over the scriptures for the First Wednesday of ‘Ordinary’ Time, it occurs to me that they are teaching us that we need to listen and to respond to God’s promptings in our lives.  Sometimes they are direct messages from God and sometimes they come through other people.  But just listening isn’t enough, although it is an important first step.

Lately, when my wife or I have a question for my granddaughter (11 years old) we often have to say over and over again, “Did you hear what I said?”  Her usual reply is, “I hear you,” to which we have to say, “I need you to listen AND respond.”  It’s almost a mantra around our house.

Samuel was listening and he was trying to respond, but he wasn’t listening closely enough to realize it was the Lord speaking to him (1 Samuel 3:1-10, 19-20).  He needed Eli to counsel him.  That’s OK; we all need the wisdom of elders and those more spiritually in touch than ourselves.  Once he learned that God was truly speaking to him, he responded appropriately and developed a deep relationship with the Lord.

The responsorial psalm echoes Samuel’s sentiments: “Here am I, Lord, I come to do your will.” There is special mention of having “ears open” and then acting (Psalm 40:2-5, 7-8, 8-9, 10).

In Mark’s gospel, Jesus listens to His friends’ entreaty to help Simon’s mother-in-law, even if they may have not made a direct request (Mark 1:29-39). Just telling Jesus about her plight was enough for Him to immediately respond, reaching out and healing her instantly.

The next day, after a full evening of dealing with crowds gathered at the door and curing as many as possible, He rose early and “went off to a deserted place” to pray.  I can just imagine the prayers He offered, probably discussing with His Father the fatigue He may have felt, concerns for others, His hopes for the future, and quietly listening as He absorbed strength from the Holy Spirit.

When His friends found Him, He had a response ready for them.  He wanted to go to nearby villages and preach, saying, “For this purpose have I come.”  Through listening to God’s call through prayer, He was able to focus in on what He was to do.  He shows us the way to discover what we are to do: listen to God’s whispers in our hearts and then act on them.  

“Or who can know Your counsel, unless You give Wisdom and send your Holy Spirit from on high?” (Wisdom 9:17).  When we try to discern God’s will, we are asking the Holy Spirit to clarify what course of action we should take.  In this sense, we are surrendering to that which the Spirit wants of us.

We may not always have the extreme clarity to say, “For this purpose have I come,” but sometimes we will, and other times we will know at least what direction we should start going and what direction we should avoid.