Daniel 9:4-10 / Luke 6:36-38
To be able to hear is to be aware of the different sounds around us.
Some sounds may be louder than others, and that may overcome the softer sounds.
But in our ability to hear, there is also a further aspect that is called selective listening.
In selective listening, we focus on what we want to listen to and we cut out the rest of the sounds.
But more than just listening to sounds, we listen to what others are saying.
And we must listen to understand what others are saying.
In order to listen so as to understand, then we must also be silent.
In the 1st reading, the prophet Daniel pointed out the main fault of the people.
And that is they have not listened to God’s prophets who were the voice of God.
On the first Sunday of Lent, the gospel reading invites us to follow Jesus into the desert to pray and to fast.
On the second Sunday of Lent, we follow Jesus up the mountain, and there we were told to listen to Him, for He is the Beloved Son of the Father.
Let us ask Jesus to silence our hearts so that we can truly listen and understand His teaching of love, compassion and forgiveness.