In the first reading, we hear how Abram “went as the Lord directed him.”  This is a great way of living as well as a great goal for Lent.  In the gospel, we hear the heavenly Father speak as the Lord is transfigured before some of His disciples…“This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him.”  There are few times in the scriptures that we hear God the Father speak.  But this time the directive is clear…listen to Him.  In a special way, in his Lenten Message this year, Pope Leo wrote on the importance of listening.

This year, I would first like to consider the importance of making room for the word through listening. The willingness to listen is the first way we demonstrate our desire to enter into relationship with someone…Our God is one who seeks to involve us. Even today He shares with us what is in His heart. Because of this, listening to the word in the liturgy teaches us to listen to the truth of reality. In the midst of the many voices present in our personal lives and in society, Sacred Scripture helps us to recognize and respond to the cry of those who are anguished and suffering. In order to foster this inner openness to listening, we must allow God to teach us how to listen as He does. We must recognize that “the condition of the poor is a cry that, throughout human history, constantly challenges our lives, societies, political and economic systems, and, not least, the Church.”

…where there is injury, pardon…Who have you injured—whether through words you said or didn’t say; through actions you did or didn’t do?  When we listen to the Lord, He will put people on our heart that we can seek forgiveness from.  Jesus can also bring to mind people who have hurt us so that with His help we can bring pardon and peace to their lives.  At the end of the day, a life of pardon and peace flows from listening to Him and responding to His healing will.

Listen to Him…and respond,
Fr. Jeremy