Day 14
Listening: Passport to Spiritual Growth
Reflection By: Sylvia Sula

" This is my Son, the beloved, listen to him ." Mark 9:7

I know how to listen to another person even though I do not always do the correct things for real listening. How do I listen to Jesus in prayer? I say my prayers and put aside time each day and want to know what God's will is for me in my life. I ask for this or that, for my kids, parents, jobs etc. How well do I listen during my prayer time? Sometimes I spend the whole time telling God how I want things worked out in my life. I do remember to thank God for my day and blessings he has given me, but do I listen?

I have to be quiet in order to listen. I have to stop my talking. I have to stop my thoughts from moving from one thing to another. This is sometimes very hard. I have to sit in stillness and just "Let My God Love Me".

I belong to the Morning Prayer Group. We meet on Monday morning after the 8:30 Mass in Rm. 167 until about 10:45. Everyone is welcome to join us. We take time to Praise and Thank the Lord in song and word. We lift petitions to the Lord for both our families and the whole community of St. Raphael. We have a reflection or sharing on some topic. We also take some silent time in our meeting to listen to what the Lord Jesus has to say to each of us. This is an important part of our prayer time.

I often share the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19 when he is fleeing from Jezebel who wants to have him killed. He finds a cave where he can hide, but the Word of the Lord comes to Elijah. He is told to go out on the mountain for the Lord will be passing by. The Lord was not in the strong and heavy winds nor the earthquake or the fire. The Lord came in a tiny whispering sound.

The Lord Jesus speaks to me and to each of us in a tiny sound within our heart. We will not hear if we do not take time to be still and listen to what Jesus has to say.