D27 / “The Sacred Art of Listening”

Day-27  “The Sacred Art of Listening” 

Beloved, during this Lenten season, we are invited not only to pray, fast, and serve but also to listen. In a world filled with noise, activity, and distraction, the story of Mary and Martha reveals a deep spiritual truth: listening is a sacred discipline. It is not passive; it is powerful.

1. The Tension Between Doing and Being
Martha welcomed Jesus into her home. Her service was sincere, her intentions good. Yet she was “distracted with much serving.” Her hands were busy, but her heart was restless. Mary, on the other hand, “sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what He said.” She chose stillness over busyness.

Lent confronts us with this question: Are we so busy doing for God that we forget to be with God? Activity is not intimacy. Service without listening can become stressful instead of worship.

2. Listening is an Act of Love and Surrender
Mary’s posture at Jesus’ feet was not just about hearing but about surrender. In that culture, sitting at a teacher’s feet meant becoming a disciple.

“Lord, Your voice matters more than my plans.” “Your word shapes my life more than my worries.” True listening requires humility. It requires us to pause, to quiet our inner noise, and to give God our full attention.

3. Distraction is the Enemy of Devotion
Jesus gently tells Martha, “You are worried and troubled about many things.” Her problem was not service, but distraction. Distraction divides the heart. It pulls us away from the presence of God.

Today, our distractions may not be kitchen work but screens, schedules, ambitions, and anxieties.
Let us examine what is stealing my attention from God?

4. The One Thing Needed
Jesus declares, “One thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the better part.” Not many things. Not endless tasks. Just one thing: to be present with Him, to listen.

This does not mean we abandon our responsibility; it means we reorder our priorities. Listening to God becomes the foundation for everything else. When we listen first, our service becomes meaningful, our decisions become wise, and our hearts find peace.

5. Listening Transforms Us
Mary didn’t just gain information; she experienced transformation. When we truly listen to Christ, our anxiety turns into peace, our confusion becomes clarity, our selfishness is reshaped into love, and our lives align with God’s will.

Listening is where transformation begins. This Lenten season is not about doing more but about drawing closer. Like Mary, we are invited to sit, to listen, and to receive. The world rewards noise and productivity, but Christ honours stillness and attentiveness. Amen.


Final Takeaway
“In the busyness of life, choose the presence of Christ over the pressure of activity because listening to Him is the one thing that gives life meaning, direction, and peace.”

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

D/5 "From Anger to the Altar: A Lenten Journey to the Cross”

Image
DAY -5  "From Anger to the Altar: A Lenten Journey to the Cross” Beloved, in the  Gospel of Matthew 5:21–26, Jesus takes us deeper than outward sin and brings us face to face with the hidden fires within the heart:  “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder,   and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment." During Lent, as we walk toward the Cross, this Word becomes a mirror. We may never lift a weapon against someone, yet we may carry silent anger, buried resentment, unspoken bitterness. Jesus teaches that anger is not a small emotion to excuse—it is a seed that can grow into spiritual death. 1. The Hidden Fire Within Murder begins long before the act. It begins with wounded pride, jealousy, harsh words, and silent contempt. When anger is entertained, it poisons our prayers, disturbs our peace, and distances us from God. Lent is not only about fasting from food; it is about fasting from hatred. It is about allowing Christ...
Read more

Dr. Mary Poonen Lukose : A Deeper Dive into Her Life, Faith, and Legacy

Image
Dr. Mary Poonen Lukose (1886–1976): A Deeper Dive into Her Life, Faith, and Legacy She holds the distinction of being the first female Malayali graduate, the first Indian woman admitted to London University, and the world's first woman to become a Surgeon General. As Kerala's first Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Mary’s impact on the region’s healthcare is profound. An obstetrician and gynecologist by profession, she was instrumental in transforming the Women and Children's Hospital at Thycaud, Thiruvananthapuram, into a modern medical facility, offering comprehensive care across various medical disciplines. Her initiatives in developing a network of midwives and delivering Kerala’s first C-section baby cemented her reputation as a pioneer in maternal and child healthcare. She was the founder of a  Tuberculosis Sanatorium  in  Nagarcoil  and the  X-Ray and Radium Institute ,  Thiruvananthapuram , and served as the head of the Health Department in the  Princ...
Read more

D4 / Salt and Light at the Foot of the Cross

Image
Day - 4 " Salt and Light at the Foot of the Cross" Beloved, “You are the salt of the earth…You are the light of the world.” These words were spoken during the Sermon on the Mount before the Cross, but they find their deepest meaning at the Cross. As we journey through Lent, walking prayerfully toward Calvary, we are invited not only to remember the Cross, but to be transformed by it. Salt at the Cross Salt preserves. Salt purifies. Salt adds flavour. When Jesus says, “You are the salt of the earth,” He entrusts us with a divine responsibility. In a world that is morally and spiritually decaying, we are called to preserve righteousness. In a society losing hope, we are to add the flavour of grace, compassion, and truth. But Lent reminds us: salt can lose its saltiness. How does that happen? When prayer becomes routine. When fasting becomes a display. When charity becomes publicity. When the Cross becomes a decoration rather than a devotion. At the Cross, we see the tr...
Read more