Just Listen

The WORD today (See http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/052614.cfm) reminds me how important and powerful listening is.

Not a lot of people have the gift of listening. Most of us want to speak, to talk about ourselves, our issues, concerns and dreams. That is why real listeners are rare.

In the first reading, we see how important listening is.

"One of them, a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth, from the city of Thyatira, a worshiper of God, listened, and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what Paul was saying."

A good reminder for us. Some people say they don't want to go to mass because they don't like the priest, or because they don't like other people in church, or because they won't get anything anyway. However, we see otherwise in the story of Lydia. She was probably just like us. We both believe in God. We have work or business just like her. And probably she was not expecting anything great or extraordinary as she went to listen that Sabbath, just like what some of us feel when we go to mass... But God opened her heart and changed her, just because she was listening. God could not do it if she was home or attending to her business. God opened her heart as she was listening...and God can do that to us as well.

We may not like the priest, or church or people. But we are encouraged to continue attending Mass, prayer meetings and gatherings and just listen. And as we faithfully do so, let us have faith that God will surprise us and open our hearts and change us, maybe not radically like Lydia, but bit by bit.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for all the blessings. Lord, I am sorry for the times I get lazy to attend mass and other spiritual activities. From now on, I commit to be faithful and continue to listen to you. And I know by faith that you will also work in me, and open my heart ad change me. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-