Over the remaining two weekends we are embarked upon a small Summer Series called “Listen”. Every day, the world promises to meet our needs, flooding us with messages and even telling us how to live and pack for this journey of life. But with so much noise in the world, how can we really hear anything? We’ll begin to distinguish the world’s voice from God’s so we can find out what it is we truly need. Together we will explore and I am going to suggest that the Lord is inviting us to “pack and prepare” as we “listen to His ways and seek to comprehend His voice”. Over next three weeks I would like to use the Sunday scriptures to say THREE THINGS we should pack in order to better listen.
Before beginning consider listening to the Message from this Lord's Day. and then reading the further reflections below. Each week will also offer a small follow up which you can consider doing - something short - about 15 minutes per day.
Jesus said - “my sheep they listen to my voice and follow me” (John 10:27). I think all of us would agree that following Jesus and doing His will for our life is the goal of each Disciple of Jesus. Last week we embarked upon a small Summer Series called “Listen”: with so much noise in the world, how can we really hear anything? Last week we learned we need the Text to Listen. This week the Time to Listen.
We look around our world today and we may think everything is falling apart. War, death, despair is everywhere. We human beings have declared all these things, not God. As we hear in the Responsorial Psalm, God declares Peace.
The Gospel today seems clear enough, yet there are many subtle messages. Jesus gave the disciples authority to speak and act in His name and at the same time told them to travel light—one tunic and a pair of sandals. No extra baggage charges for them! The point is we have a tendency to get caught up in our “things”, our possessions and we’re taught to be self-reliant. Our focus often becomes our “things” and they can get in the way of answering Christ’s call.
God speaks - He does not scream. He does not say - be loud, and know that I am God, be busy, and know that I am God, be stressed, and know that I am God, be distracted and know that I am God, power up and know that I am God. He says - be still - quiet. For it is in that still stillness that we connect to God more than we admit.
If you think of it - in our daily lives - conversations that impact us, mold us, direct us are not usually happening in the loud clutter of a party but in the better conversation of when you slow down. I hope you have that in your life - A place, a time each day, where life is quiet. For if you are in a hurray all the time - you will not Hear His voice - it will be tough to listen
For me it’s the morning - I connect with God - I have a room in my home that I have changed into a chapel with the Blessed Sacrament present and there I begin my day - still - it is there that my direction for the day is given and where I have the energy to launch forth into my day - my stillness leads me to activity. It is there that I listen
God speaks - He does not scream. He does not say - be loud, and know that I am God, be busy, and know that I am God, be stressed, and know that I am God, be distracted and know that I am God, power up and know that I am God. He says - be still - quiet. For it is in that still stillness that we connect to God more than we admit.
If you think of it - in our daily lives - conversations that impact us, mold us, direct us are not usually happening in the loud clutter of a party but in the better conversation of when you slow down. I hope you have that in your life - A place, a time each day, where life is quiet. For if you are in a hurray all the time - you will not Hear His voice - it will be tough to listen
For me it’s the morning - I connect with God - I have a room in my home that I have changed into a chapel with the Blessed Sacrament present and there I begin my day - still - it is there that my direction for the day is given and where I have the energy to launch forth into my day - my stillness leads me to activity. It is there that I listen
Jesus sent His disciples out two by two. Why? Perhaps so they had someone else for support or perhaps to send us the message that we, too, need each other. Church is community and we all succeed together, not as solitary individuals. Thus the power of the Lord's Day and the stillness of gathering for Mass each week.
The message this week is: Take Time to for Stillness and Keep Listening.
Let’s discuss this as a family:
1. How do you survive when “the waves are high” in your life or in the world around you? How are you finding time for stillness?
2. Explain the difficulty you face in balancing the world’s “Things” versus keeping focused on Jesus and his mission. How are you finding time for stillness?
Some points to remember and consider:
1. Take the time to pray. No matter how you pray or who you pray to, it can be difficult to find time for prayer during busy times. One way to deal with this is to make prayer part of your daily routine, such as praying as soon as you wake up in the morning, right before you go to sleep, or before every meal.
2. Find a good spot to pray. You will find that you can pray anytime, anywhere, anyhow. It may help to be in a place where the focus is on spirituality (such as a church or even an Adoration Chapel) or where the environment reminds you of your spiritual bond (like a natural setting, or a spot with a big view).
3. Know your purpose. Understand that prayer does not have to involve crafted, reflective silence. It does not have to ask, plead, question or thank; all it must do is appreciate.
There is no wrong time to pray. Many people pray during emotional times, like when they feel sad, scared, or happy. You can pray at any time of day, and as much or as little as you feel is sufficient for your spiritual life. Some people make it their goal to maintain a state of prayer all the time by remaining conscious of their spiritual connection throughout the day.
Some points to remember and consider:
1. Take the time to pray. No matter how you pray or who you pray to, it can be difficult to find time for prayer during busy times. One way to deal with this is to make prayer part of your daily routine, such as praying as soon as you wake up in the morning, right before you go to sleep, or before every meal.
2. Find a good spot to pray. You will find that you can pray anytime, anywhere, anyhow. It may help to be in a place where the focus is on spirituality (such as a church or even an Adoration Chapel) or where the environment reminds you of your spiritual bond (like a natural setting, or a spot with a big view).
3. Know your purpose. Understand that prayer does not have to involve crafted, reflective silence. It does not have to ask, plead, question or thank; all it must do is appreciate.
There is no wrong time to pray. Many people pray during emotional times, like when they feel sad, scared, or happy. You can pray at any time of day, and as much or as little as you feel is sufficient for your spiritual life. Some people make it their goal to maintain a state of prayer all the time by remaining conscious of their spiritual connection throughout the day.