Listening for God’s Word

Since the start of Lent we’ve been encouraging parishioners to listen carefully at Mass, because God can be trusted to speak a word of guidance or comfort or correction or encouragement.  People who are using this discipline, even writing down what they hear, regularly tell me how helpful it is to their spiritual life.  As you see below, I’ve been encouraging people to let me know (anonymously) what they’re hearing so I can share it with other parishioners.  Here are some samples of what people have recently sent to me:

• Be quiet and listen; turn off the TV and social media often.
• Try to be like God, don’t try to be God.
• “The Lord is kind and merciful” (to me, a sinner).
• The Holy Spirit was and is the spirit of new life – which means change.
• I will give you hope: “With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.”

There’s no way to know the context in people’s lives in which they heard these things, but they meant enough that the person wrote it down.  It’s not hard to imagine the effect on one’s spiritual life of a week’s prayer on any one of these simple things – and the power within them to change a life for the better.

And that’s the point: God wants to remind us of simple, powerful things by which He can change our lives for the better, make us better versions of ourselves.  Why not give it a try, if you haven’t already?  The process is simple:

1. Prepare: Read the Gospel in advance;
2. Be Present: Come to Mass early to quiet yourself and open your mind and heart for God;
3. Pray: Ask God to say something to you that will heal you and make you a better version of yourself;
4. Listen: to everything at Mass: Hymns, prayers, Scriptures, homily, intercessory prayers; fleeting interior thoughts, images, hopes, fears…
5. Write down what seems important, even if you’re not sure what it means just yet;
6. Review what you wrote during the week.

It’s as simple as that.

During this Easter season we’re making time during the preparation of the gifts at Mass, so that people can write what they’re hearing if they choose.  I encourage you to make the most of that time.  Don’t let God’s message disappear into the busy-ness of living once you step out the doors of the church on Sunday.

Can you imagine what your spiritual life might be like today if you had been doing this for the past few years or even decades?  How much better and more fully you’d know and appreciate God’s care for you and His guidance for your life?  The mistakes you might have been spared?  The encouragement that might have helped you through hard times?  The past is gone, but the future begins today.  God really wants to help you in your life: and you can cooperate with God with tools as simple as a notebook and a pencil.  Until next week, peace.

A request: If you’ve been using the notebook to record what you hear from God at Mass and would like to help others to get started, I invite you to send me your jottings; I’ll publish some as examples (without names attached, of course).  You can drop off notes to me at the parish office, or e-mail to frvin@ourladyofgrace.net.  Thanks to those who have been sending me what you’re hearing!