Scripture:
Proverbs 21:1-6, 10-13
Luke 8:19-21
Reflection:
The greatest and first commandment in the whole of the Bible is:
“Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is the only One!
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
“These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.” Deu 6:4 (Mt 22:37f)
The first word of the Shema prayer is “hear,” or “listen”. Listening is among the most important words in Scripture! It is used 1,160 times in OT and 433 in the NT!
In today’s Gospel Jesus tells us that the people closest to Him are “My mother and my brothers
are those who hear the word of God and act on it.” LK 8:21 God loves to speak to us in many ways. In the opening verses of Genesis, He speaks to us in creation. “Let there be light (hāyâ or) and there was light! What a beautiful universal language that all can understand. His word, light, becomes light before our eyes! All of creation is a concrete word to us from His heart to ours. “All creatures are the utterance of God.” M Echart
Above all His Word to us is an invitation of intimacy with the Lord of the galaxies! His ultimate Word to us is His Only Begotten Son. “And the Word became Flesh and dwelt among us!” Our hearing His Word, our sensitive and reverent listening, our “doing it” or letting it work in us is at the heart of discipleship with Him. Cherishing His word is beautify expressed by Jesus. “If a person loves me, he will treasure my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. JN 14:23
A very consoling aspect of listening to His word is it not only offers Himself “the Word” to us, but also empowers us to receive it. “So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth.
“It will not return to Me empty Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” Is 55:11
A huge part of the gift of faith is the incredible grace to receive and practice it by listening to His Word! St Gregory the Great beautifully expressed it. “To know the Heart of God through the Word of God”.
Fr. Bob Weiss, C.P., preaches Parish Missions and is a member of the Passionist Community in Louisville, Kentucky.