Seeing and Hearing God in the World

"Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it." Lk 10:24

All of us have seen marvelous things. We have watched children turn into responsible adults, and enjoyed seeing young people enter society with a thirst and a willingness to work for justice. We have seen bald eagles and marvelously powerful waterfalls, and more important than anything else from a faith perspective, we have seen God's face and love in all creation, in the sacraments and the committed service of people all over the world.

Jesus' warning is clear. He tells the disciples not to take for granted what they are seeing and experiencing in him. Not only does he feed 5000 people with a few loaves of bread, and heal a woman who has been bleeding for 12 years, he embraces the poor and a lifestyle that challenges everyone to live more simply and to depend completely on his Father.

The problem for most of us is that we get easily distracted from what really matters. Caught up in a world that demands multitasking, we are often too tired to pay attention to the people God gives us as companions in faith, and ignore the suffering all around us because we are too busy to care deeply. Listening to Jesus in this gospel means slowing down so that our eyes and ears can see and hear the glory of God all around us.

Today, stop for five minutes and look around.

What makes it most difficult for you to do the things you know you are called to do?