Hearing the Words of God

Jesus said, "Whoever is from God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear them is that you are not from God."

The Jews answered him, "Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?" Jesus answered, "I do not have a demon; but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is one who seeks it and he is the judge. Very truly, I tell you, whoever keeps my word will never see death." The Jews said to him, "Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, and so did the prophets; yet you say, ‘Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.' Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets also died. Who do you claim to be?" Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, he of whom you say, 'He is our God,' though you do not know him. But I know him; if I would say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him and I keep his word. Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day; he saw it and was glad." Then the Jews said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?" Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I am." So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple. John 8:47-59 

 It seemed that when we were small they were constantly testing our hearing. The doctor would put you in a little booth with a huge headset on and make you raise a hand when you heard a sound. Left for the left and right for the right. As we got older the tests got more sophisticated, but it seemed as if the adults were really concerned about our hearing, both in school and out. I never had hearing problems and yet remember being tested regularly. Maybe the technology was new and everyone wanted to use it.

Jesus was still in the temple arguing with the temple bigwigs. Their lives were orderly and controlled, full of traditional behaviors and appropriate routine. But their hearts were empty and far from God. Anyone of us can fill our time with routine and tradition and fail to hear the heart of God in our lives. Our busy-ness can make us deaf to God, unmoved and unshaken by love, compassion or service. God calls us today to listen and hear, the heart of God, aching for love of the people.

Today I ask God to help me listen. May we all live lives open to God's movement and direction, open to the needs of the people where we are. May God give us all the strength to listen to hear the still small voice of our Creator.