Are you listening?

The story is told about a family who were debating and discussing in the hospital room as their father lay dying, whether to cremate him or have his body buried in the ground. As they started debating loudly, their father opened his eyes and told them: “My children, don’t quarrel. I am still here! Just surprise me, okay?!”

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In today’s Gospel (Luke 24:13-35), Jesus drew near and walked with two disciples on the way to Emmaus and asked them, “What are you discussing as you walk along?” St. Luke notes that they looked downcast. Many words and “discussions” can burden or imprison us. Perhaps, if we really listened to the Risen Lord, He could lift us up from our prisons and divisions.

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More than words, it was the encounter with the Risen Lord that changed the disciples. Words often can get in the way and can muddle simple truths. Some of the biggest realizations in life often happen when we stop talking and really start listening.

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Notice how the Risen Lord participated in the discussion of the two disciples with just a simple question? “What were you discussing along the way?” and the disciples started to share lengthily. May we learn to evoke truth from others, and not talk as if we had the monopoly of truth. Don’t forget: Truth is with us, between us, and among us.

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What are we discussing or debating about these days? The Iran-US war; the fuel cost increase; the graft and corruption in our country. The list goes on. But are we really listening to each other? Are we open to real dialogue and understanding? And, more importantly, are we listening to the Lord through it all? Let us not leave out the Lord in our worldly threads and reels!

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My deep admiration and respect to our dear Pope Leo XIV who went beyond debate toward Gospel truth and values. He made us realize to be strong and to stand for the Risen Lord, and not to be afraid when the world bullies and persecutes us. The “Desiderata” reminds us that when we have the truth, we can speak our truth “quietly and clearly…”

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When you encounter any crisis, failure, or any “standstill” moment, perhaps the Lord wants you to do just that—to stand still, and really listen. It is at such moments when we realize that there is a big picture, His picture, and there is a plan, His masterplan. Such stops are necessary, but only temporary, for Christian life is a constant moving on, and being on the way. “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

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“Stay with us, Lord.” This is a beautiful prayer which we, who are on the way, must continue to humbly pray. Whatever we have gone through, whatever we are going through, and whatever we will still go through, we are confident because the Lord is with us, and the Lord will stay with us. The way Himself will stay with us on the way, all the way! Amen.

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In the evening of our lives, may we find Jesus still at our side. May we not find out that we have drifted too far from Him, or have left Him behind as we pursued our worldly gods and desires. May we not have too many regrets that we loved Him too little, too late, just because we loved ourselves too much.

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From hot heads and heated discussions, the two disciples ended up with hearts burning, just because they encountered the Lord. May we, too, learn to really listen more to each other, and to really listen more to the Lord together, “with respect, understanding, compassion, and love.” (SVD Spirituality Song)

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In a world that is often too noisy and too hurried, we are gently reminded today to slow down and listen—not only with our ears, but with our hearts. We do not always need to have the last word, nor must we always prove that we are right. Sometimes, the Lord is already speaking in the silence we avoid, in the person we interrupt, in the situation we try to control. Let us learn to pause, to be still, and to allow His gentle voice to guide us. For it is not in our many words, but in our humble listening, that we encounter Him more deeply. And when we do, like the disciples on the way, our hearts, too, will begin to burn—not with anger or pride, but with love, with peace, and with His quiet presence.

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A moment with the Lord:

Lord, help us to listen more, and talk less, and not be afraid of the sound of silence. Amen.

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momentswithfrjerry@gmail.com

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