Our readings today are about listening. Every one of them mentions God speaking to someone. That’s where we find ourselves a lot of time during our prayers. We long for and hope to hear God speaking to us, but we end up dominating the conversation most of the time. Our mind is filled more with our own words, thoughts, and anxieties than with a stillness and a silence that allows us to listen.
It’s good to take time like Jesus in the Gospel to go apart, to get away from the distractions and stresses we find in our world of instant information. That way, we can seek an inner silence, a moment to listen to God speak to us.
I want to mention the practice of making a holy hour and arriving at Mass to spend some time with Jesus for a few minutes beforehand. There is no space more conducive to meeting God in the silence of our hearts than in the presence of the Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Our Parish doors are open during office hours to allow people to come and sit with Him. Also, every first Friday, we can visit Jesus exposed on the altar for worship and Adoration.
Whatever is plaguing us, whatever disease or hardship, whatever physical or mental issue: bring it to the foot of the cross. Bring it to Jesus like the leper who said, “If you wish, I can be made clean.” Because the same Jesus who said “I do will it. Be made clean” is right here and wants to help us. All we must do is bring ourselves to Him and have the humility to make our hearts sing out, “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.”
A reflection on the readings for Wednesday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time: January 12th, 2022