There are many ways of listening, especially as a disciple of Jesus Christ. I recently read that such attention involves listening at a heart level. This means listening with empathy and emotional understanding. It means going beyond just the words spoken to truly grasp the feelings and intentions behind someone's message. To do this requires an open mind and a willingness to connect deeply with the another on a personal level.
In the Bible, listening with the heart is a central aspect of discipleship and wisdom. It involves being attentive to God's voice, and being open to learning and growing. Two verses speak to the listening heart.
Proverbs 22:17: "Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your heart to my knowledge"
James 1:19: "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry"
How do we to apply such listening wisdom? Here are some basic suggestions.
- Listen to the heartbeat of God through the Scriptures
- Listen to your own heartbeat
- Listen to God through your family, friends, and your community
- Listen to God's presence in the events and circumstances of your life
- Set time aside for prayer and contemplation
- Be intentional about your life with God
The instructions given to those attending synod in the Roman Catholic tradition says, “Listening to those who have the same views as we do bears no fruit. Dialogue involves coming together across diverse opinions. Indeed, God often speaks through the voices of those that we can easily exclude, cast aside, or discount. We must make a special effort to listen to those we may be tempted to see as unimportant and those who force us to consider new points of view that may change our way of thinking.”
Loving God, you speak to each one of us when we open our hearts to you. Let us be willing to take the time that is needed to sit with your Word and understand what it means for us today. Amen
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