The Love That Begins With Listening

The Love That Begins With Listening

In the Gospel of Luke, a woman in the crowd praises Jesus . . .

. . . by declaring blessed the womb that bore Him and the breasts that nursed Him. Jesus responds, “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.” This is not a rejection of praise for Mary, but a revelation of the deeper reason for her greatness. Mary is blessed not only because she became the mother of Jesus, but because she listened so completely to God’s Word, received it into her heart, and faithfully surrendered her life to His will. As St. Augustine expressed it, Mary conceived the Word of God in her heart before she conceived Him in her womb.

Mary’s example teaches us that listening is an essential expression of love. Truly listening requires us to quiet ourselves, give others our time and attention, and remain open even when what we hear challenges us. The same is true of our relationship with God: we must allow His Word to enter our minds, transform our hearts, and guide our actions rather than merely hearing it. The gestures we make before the Gospel remind us to keep God’s Word in our minds, on our lips, and in our hearts. By learning to listen as Mary did, we grow in holiness, become more loving toward others, and prepare ourselves to receive Christ more fully in the Eucharist. When we respond “Amen” at Holy Communion, we can echo Mary’s own surrender: “Let it be done to me according to your word.”

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The Love That Begins With Listening

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