T HERE ARE A LOT of barriers to listening. It’s hard to focus on what’s being said — or not being said. Listening requires concentration.
Hearing is a selective process. We hear only what we want to hear.
Then there’s information overload, personal concerns or issues, outside distractions, prejudice. There are so many sounds around us that we may not pick up what we most need to hear. Add to that, many of us already have hearing loss.
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ON THE MOUNT of Transfiguration, instead of paying attention, Peter is thinking his own thoughts about what should happen — “Let’s build three shelters up here … .”
The Voice that thunders cuts short his misguided wisdom:
“This is my beloved Son. LISTEN TO HIM.”
In effect, God says, “Shut up!” Remember, the crowds back in chapter 1 of Mark proclaimed this. “He speaks as one with power and authority.”
The disciples, in Mark’s gospel, are not quick learners. Unfortunately, on the mountain isn’t the first nor last time Peter doesn’t listen.
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IN OUR READING this morning (by four of our youth), Mark tells of the time Jesus openly talks about his future agonizing death and joyful resurrection. Instead of listening, instead of taking it in, Peter responds: “Be quiet, Jesus. Don’t talk such nonsense.”
Jesus quiets Peter.
“Get out of the way, Satan!” is a way of saying: “Peter, stop talking about something you know nothing about.”
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THE KEY WORD today is LISTEN. Time and again, we fail to listen. Again and again, God commands (not suggests) the disciples and the whole world to listen.
God says listen to Jesus, hear his words, eat his words as if they are the Bread of Life. Drink his words as if they are the Water of Life.
We listen closely to a doctor when she talks to us about our cancer, our heart attack, our brain aneurysm. We often ask someone to go with us to the doctor appointment so that we have another set of ears to help us accurately hear the doctor.
In the same way, listen carefully and attentively to the words of Jesus. The voice from heaven declares Jesus to be the Son of God and commands us to listen to him.
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WHEN I THINK about this, a question that arises is: How do we listen to a God who does not speak to us face to face, like a doctor or a neighbor?
Sometimes, many times, God talks to us through other people. Listen to people around you and around the world. We too quickly dismiss people who don’t think like we do.
We debunk those with different ideas without giving any thought to what they say. Only later do we perhaps think back and say, “If only I had listened to her/him/them—”
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MANY YEARS AGO, Bob’s internship supervisor said, “I don’t think you will be a good therapist. You don’t seem to pay attention. You miss too much of what’s going on.” But Bob just couldn’t act on the advice — he had put so much effort into preparing to be a clinical psychologist. So, for 40 years, Bob was a not-very-good therapist.
When Bob retired, he looked back and questioned why had he put himself and his clients through this. He didn’t even like people. For all these years, Bob denied himself the opportunity to pursue a better-suited career because he didn’t listen.
Again and again, God speaks to us through other people. Listen.
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WE LISTEN to God intently through scripture. Quiet yourself (finding a quiet place might be the biggest challenge). Read some Bible verses. Our Lenten devotional booklets and devotional cards are great ways to practice this. Pay attention to how the verses impact you. What jumps out at you? Stay with it and use silence to focus on it. You may be surprised where your reflection takes you.
Encourage your children to listen as you read stories about Jesus. Listen and talk about Jesus and what he says to your child.
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OF COURSE, we listen to God through prayer. Authentic listening to God in prayer is like authentic listening to another person. If we stop, take a moment to focus and be aware of the other person, and really be present to them and be truly open to them, we are well on our way to listening to what they have to say. The same with listening to God.
Stop talking. Stop offering a list of things for God to do. Allow God to speak to your heart.
Maybe that means taking a few moments of silence each night and simply review your day. Certain experiences will catch our attention. Stay with the experience — listen to what God is saying to you through the experience and your feelings about it.
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LISTEN TO PEOPLE around you. They might be telling you exciting news or giving you good instructions. Listen to God’s word, to the things Jesus said and the things God spoke through the prophets. Listen in prayer. There are things the Holy Spirit speaks to us in our hearts. (Let us pray again the prayer offered during our time with the children.)
Dear God, thank you for all the ways you speak to us through other people, through your Word, and through our own hearts. Help us to listen carefully. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
