Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Homily for 24 Oct 2017

24 Oct 2017

“Obedience” has a negative sound to it.  But, really, the word means “to listen;” to listen attentively, and even to have a respectful conversation.  It isn’t about “do or die;” it’s more like: “Be quiet, listen, I have something important to show you.”  And, of course, that’s what God asks of us—to be quieter inside, so we can listen to him...attentively.

It sounds so simple, and yet it is a challenge.  How many of us have thoughts running through our head all day long (it seems)?  How many of us, if something is bothering us, will just let it sit inside us and keep us from being at peace?  And then there’s so much of our culture which expects us to be busy, busy, busy.  It’s a challenge to be quiet in our minds and in our hearts.  But if we want to hear what God has to tell us, it’s a challenge we take up.

The first word of the Rule of St. Benedict is: “Listen...listen, my child, to the precepts of your master Teacher.”  That really is the start of the spiritual life—listening attentively, learning to be quiet inside so we can hear God’s whisperings.  And he whispers sweet things to his friends, sometimes challenging things, but always, always good things.

The next time we go to pray, maybe start with our psalm from today: “Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.  Here I am, Lord.”  And then be quiet.  Listen.  Let God do the talking.

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