August 5, 2004
Listen!
Twice God the Father affirmed Jesus his beloved — at his baptism and on the Mount of Transfiguration. The first with all the pride of a loving parent. The second with all the impatience of whether the disciples would ever get it right.
We will read and hear this in tomorrow’s propers: “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” (Lk 9.35b)
The church is called to be a listening community. When we gather, there is much to hear. Great stories of our long family history. Thoughtful prayers. Better than average hymns. And, of course, each other with mutual greetings, exchanges, and catching up (all better left, I submit, until after the carefully rendered preludes and postludes and all that goes between).
Our good liturgy also wisely offers us moments following the lections, during the prayers, after the fraction, and others when we can simply be silent, listening, reflecting on what we have heard or seen, awed by the majesty of the possibility once again of having access to God.
The prophet Isaiah once admonished us in one of his more provocative ways to “Seek the Lord while he wills to be found… ” (Is 55.6a) Listen for him, as well, in the sound of gentle stillness.