Listening to God

Reading 1 – DT 18:15-20
Responsorial Psalm – PS 95:1-2, 6-7, 7-9
Reading 2 – 1 COR 7:32-35
Gospel MK 1:21-28

When God speaks, He reveals Himself. Listening, an essential element in any relationship, is of utmost importance with God. Unfortunately, our busy lives, jobs, relationships, technology, media etc. at times create a barrier between God’s words and our hearts.  Today, we are warned against resistance when God speaks to us, “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts” (PS 95:8).

Listening to God should be our most important priority. It was such revelation which helped Moses understand that a prophet greater than him, Jesus, would be coming into the world: “A prophet like me will the LORD, your God, raise up for you from among your own kindred; that is the one to whom you shall listen” (DT 18:15).

Paul understood this as well when he spoke of the dangers of anxiety and distractions: “I should like you to be free of anxieties….I am telling you this for your own benefit, not to impose a restraint upon you, but for the sake of propriety and adherence to the Lord without distraction” (1 COR 7:35).

Listening to God requires that we set aside time to know Him. How? By reading His words and then meditating, praying, and contemplating on them (Lectio Divina).

If we make an effort to listen to God, we, too, can be cured of the unclean spirits clinging to our hearts. We, too, like the demonic man in today’s Gospel, can experience Jesus’ healing power: “Quiet! Come out of him!” (MK 1:25).