Thursday of the Third Week of Lent
“Listen to my voice,” is God’s command to the people of Israel through the prophet Jeremiah in today’s first reading (Jeremiah 7: 23-28) Similarly, we heard a couple of weeks ago in the gospel reading about the Transfiguration of Jesus, God spoke to the disciples on the mountain top about Jesus, “This is my chosen Son, listen to him.” We hear from Jeremiah that the people did not listen; instead they “walked in the hardness of their evil hearts and turned their backs, not their faces” to God. It sounds to me like they were being stubborn, something I’ve found myself being with God at times. Sometimes, like a little kid who wants her own way, not what the parent wants, I have found myself hardening my heart to God and to other people. Sometimes it’s a matter of pride and not wanting to forgive a wrong, other times it’s a matter of thinking that what I want is better than what I hear God trying to tell me about my life.
This reading from Jeremiah is preceded by the verse: “I gave them no command regarding burnt offering or sacrifice.” (vs. 22b) Rather, the command God has given is to “listen” to God’s voice. So, here we are in Lent, a time of renewal and sacrifice, and the message seems to be that what is truly important is to listen and walk in God’s ways. If we make sacrifices and go to mass and do these external things all the while with hardened heart and turning our back on God, what good does it do? God doesn’t want our actions without our heart. I guess it’s kind of like being given a gift by someone who you know can’t stand you, whose heart is turned against you. The gift really doesn’t having meaning or even value to you then. God wants our hearts, our entire lives offered in love.
Today’s gospel reading (Luke 11: 14-23) speaks of Jesus driving a demon out and then being accused by his adversaries of using the power of Satan to do this act. Clearly they are, once again, trying to test him, trip him up. He is wiser than them, of course, and turns it around on them. The passage ends with Jesus saying that whoever is not with him is against him, and “whoever does not gather with me scatters.” So, I think we are posed with the question, are we gathering people to Jesus or causing them to scatter? What kind of name are we giving Christianity with our words and actions, with our very lives?
I have found that in order to better listen to God, I have to be quiet. I have to turn off the external noises and distractions, and even the noise and chatter of my own mind to sit quietly in the presence of God and listen. For me, it’s time while my kids are away at school during the day, but I have to stop my busy-ness and running around to make time to listen. It has been a blessing and gift this lent to spend that time to soften my hardened heart.
Today’s psalm refrain (from Psalm 95, which was also Sunday’s psalm), encourages, “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” I pray that we can take the time and space to listen so that we will hear the voice of God and open up our hearts.
Eileen Miller