Dear Friends,

The gift of listening is irreplaceable in our journey of faith. The priest Eli finally understood that the Lord was calling the youth (Samuel), and he said to him, "Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply, 'Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening." - 1 Samuel 3:8-9. God continues to call people, and only those who are attentive can hear Him. Hearing is different from listening. We must learn to be silent before God. In silence God speaks to our hearts.

Some people post about faith every day but seldom pause long enough to listen to the Lord. As someone wisely said, "It is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart." Perhaps we need fewer opinions and more listening both to God and to one another.

During the celebration of the Solemnity of the Saints Peter and Paul, I was particularly drawn to a question posed by Pope Leo XIV regarding Synodality and what we can learn from two different personalities called by Christ and entrusted with a great mission. Here is the honest question the feast raises: "Are we actually listening, or are we performing listening?. "

Many mistakes could have been avoided if we had been willing to listen. God often speaks through the people He places in our lives: a parent, a spouse, a friend, a mentor, or even someone younger than us. No one is wise enough to know everything. Even the strongest and most experienced people need guidance. Pride says, "I already know"; Humility says, "Teach me." The Bible reminds us: "Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom for the future" - Proverbs 19:20. A teachable heart is a growing heart.

This weekend's readings teach us that God's strength does not contradict His mercy; rather, His omnipotence makes patience possible. We are invited to imitate this divine patience in a world where good and evil co-exist.

The Book of Wisdom reveals the character of God's governance, the Psalm embodies trust in His mercy, St. Paul's Letters to the Romans teaches that the Spirit sustains believers in weakness, and Jesus' parables illustrate the mystery of a kingdom growing amid resistance. Be open to advice. It may save you from regret, lead you to wisdom, and help you become the person God calls you to be. As a member of YCS (Young Christian Students) in Uganda some years ago, I remember the motto which said: "See, Judge, and Act. The motto's emphasis was to encourage us to always pause, listen patiently, and avoid hasty decisions and reactions. Sometimes the most Christian thing we can do for another person is not to preach or correct, but simply to listen with love."

As Psalm 46:10 reads, "Be still, and know that I am God": we are reminded to surrender control, release anxieties, and find peace in God's Sovereign power and presence. God's voice is not found in chaotic, overwhelming forces like a mighty wind, an earthquake, or fire, but rather in a "still small, whispering sound/ voice" - 1 Kings 19:11-12. Learn and appreciate silence, for without it, our hearts are restless and filled with uncertainty.

May the Lord help us to understand and imitate His patient justice; free us from hurried judgments, rigid expectations, and discouragement in the face of weakness; and strengthen us through His Spirit to persevere and trust in His hidden work, enabling us to grow steadily into the likeness of Christ.

Let us ask the Holy Spirit for three gifts: a listening heart, a disciplined heart, and a shepherd's heart.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Star of the Sea, pray for us.
St. Joseph, Patron and Protector of the Church, pray for us.
St. Kateri Tekakwitha, pray for us.
St. Andre Bessette, pray for us.
Jesus, I trust in you.

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