The Holy Spirit says:
"Oh, that today you would hear his voice. Harden not your hearts as at the rebellion in the day of testing in the desert...."
S pirituality, as it's called today, places great importance upon awareness. "Pay attention!" we're told. And that's a good practice regardless of what's happening or where we're going. We have seen too many people already walk into oncoming cars as they read their smartphones, and others falling over cliffs while they selfed themselves.
But some spiritualities, perhaps in the name of "diversity, equality, and inclusiveness" don't tell us to what, or to whom, we should pay attention. They suggest it really doesn't matter whether you pay attention to someone, something, no one, or nothing.
Fortunately, our Good and Gracious God is not so tolerant: "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall not have other gods beside me."
Your mother probably said something similar. Mine certainly did. "I don't care what their mothers say, you're my child and you will listen to me!"
And I did -- for the most part.
And I did -- for the most part.
When Catholics practice awareness, we pay attention to the Lord our God. We listen to him; we speak to him. Often, as I read the psalms of our Liturgy of the Hours, I take the position of the voice and announce the words to a congregation in my mind . There is always a you somewhere. The word appears twelve times in today's two readings and responsorial psalm. The you may sometimes be myself speaking to myself. And listening! For it's important to listen.
But you disappear when I am distracted. And there are penalties for that. (Psalm 137:5) I forget you; and that you are here! And so I turn my attention back to you. If I pause to scold myself for being so darned distracted, that only calls attention to myself and that's not why I'm here. I want to be with you. It takes practice and endless patience, and then more practice.
But we have nothing more important to do, and this self-forgetting will be a vital skill if we're to enter eternity with You.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.