Today's readings bring us to the very heart of discipleship. The First Reading from Ezekiel speaks of the prophet being called to listen...
Today's readings bring us to the very heart of discipleship. The First Reading from Ezekiel speaks of the prophet being called to listen to the word of the Lord, to eat the scroll, and to proclaim its truth. It's a powerful image of God’s word becoming part of our very being. We are called to listen not just with our ears, but with our entire soul, letting His truth take root within us.
This attentive listening leads us to learn. The Gospel today, with its teaching on parables, shows us that God reveals His truth to those with receptive hearts. We are meant to ponder His teachings, to understand them, and to allow them to transform our minds. But faith is not a passive, intellectual exercise. It is meant to be lived out in the world. The prophet is told to go forth and speak to the people. The disciples are told that their eyes and ears are blessed because they see and hear what many prophets and kings longed for.
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, whose feast we celebrate today, was a true master of this process. He was a Doctor of the Church, known for his deep contemplative prayer. He was a master of listening to God's quiet voice in the silence of his monastery. This deep listening led to a lifetime of learning divine truth, which then compelled him to live out his faith with incredible zeal. He became a tireless preacher and reformer, advising popes and kings, and helping to heal divisions within the Church. Saint Bernard's life is a powerful testament that a truly vibrant faith is a continuous cycle of listening, learning, and then courageously living out that truth for the sake of the world.
No comments