The texts for the Sunday celebration are rich and varied – they offer plenty to think about.
Sometimes there is so much given to our reflection that some expressions escape our attention…
It happens that some words, at the end of a text, may go unnoticed as we have already moved to the next paragraph.

The 1^st reading of this Sunday (Si 3:17-18,20,28-29) has a thought that should NOT escape our notice.
It is found at the very end of the reading and says:

“An attentive ear is the desire of the wise.”
 
God knows – indeed – that words, sounds, noises of all kinds, keep our ears busy the whole day long.
Specialists can count the decibels involved in a whisper or a thunderclap, but… can they measure their impact on us?…

Do we have this wise desire of being attentive to what we hear?

• The quiet invitation to pause a while and listen…
• The gentle call for compassion…
• The subtle request for help…
• The softly spoken words of regret…
• The discrete inspiration from the depths of ourselves…
• The challenging invitation to a commitment…
• ‘The sound of silence’ as the well-known song has it… *

 All of them – and more – can translate God’s voice unmistakenly.
They can transmit his message… always personalised!…

‘An attentive ear’ – something God cannot refuse if only we ask for it…
And how astonishing may be what we… finally come to hear!

* Simon and Garfunkel

Note: Another reflection is available on a different theme in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/22e-dimanche-de-lannee-c-2022/

Source: Images: unsplash.com