In the course of a day, many voices fill our lives.  Friends call on the phone, a family member yells from upstairs, and other voices attempt to get our attention throughout the day.  If all these voices disrupt our daily lives, how are we to recognize and hear God’s voice? 

From our Baptism onwards, we enter God’s family as his adopted children.  Since that day, our loving father makes every effort to stay nearby.  Like any devoted father, God is desirous to be a presence in our lives.  Since God is caring and concerned, he wants us to be familiar with his voice. God is aware of the many voices that crisscross our lives daily.  Yet, God wants his voice recognized whenever he calls.

This wish began with Adam and Eve in the garden.  They heard God’s voice every day as they walked together in the cool of the evening.  God thought they were family and understood each other well.

Yet, when the serpent arrived in the garden, it easily persuaded them that God’s voice didn’t really mean not to eat the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  Adam and Eve heard only the serpent’s voice and forgot God’s.  And they went astray. 

The prophet Jonah heard God’s voice to go preach repentance to the Ninevites.  At first, Jonah didn’t listen properly.  He ran away, trying to evade the urgency in God’s voice.  He tried everything, but God pursued him until he finally understood God’s message and arrived in Nineveh. 

There the strangest thing happened. Once the Ninevites listened to Jonah’s word, they immediately asked for forgiveness.  While Jonah didn’t listen to Yahweh at first, the Ninevites did and were saved on the spot. 

The apostle Judas listened to Jesus preach every day on the roads in Galilee and in Judea.  Yet, Judas did not listen to Jesus words, because Jesus didn’t say what Judas wanted to hear. He only listened to his desire to betray Jesus.  Not listening to Jesus’ words of forgiveness, Judas only heard “betray him” and so he did.

In the Good Samaritan parable, God’s voice called for help from the beaten, robbed, and stricken traveler.  A priest and a Levite heard his sad cries but did not listen.  Instead, the two only heard their calendar calling them away to do their personal bidding.  However, God’s voice was heard by the Samaritan listening to the stranger’s pain and agony.  Immediately the Samaritan responded with kindness and gentleness to God’s voice rising from the stricken stranger.

Indeed, the man on the side of the road, found a good neighbor in the Good Samaritan.  He listened and he saw a hurt neighbor and decided to help.  God was heard. Love bloomed on the earth.

Today God is turning our ears to listen to strangers calling for help.  May we always follow his model and listen closely recognizing that God is asking you and me to answer!

What you do to the least you do to me. So, listen!