LISTEN TO BECOME A BLESSING 

February 25, 2024 – Second Sunday of Lent

Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/022524.cfm)

There was once that I attended a meeting of a group of lay leaders in a parish. I was asked to sit down and listen. The meeting was called to resolve a conflict within them. As everyone sat down, it was very evident that the group was divided based on where they sat. Clearly, there was a division among the group. When the conversation began in order to hear both sides of the story, I also began to notice how many would speak at the same time. A certain group at the back would have their own conversation while a particular lay leader was telling the story.

Others began to point their fingers and blame each other. Others showed on their facial expressions disdain and disrespect. The meeting hall sounded like a market place. Everyone was speaking and expressing their side. This attitude of the group only contributed to more tensions and conflicts.

I did not wonder at all, why conflicts would easily arose in such group. People never really listen and so people cannot understand. For this Second Sunday of Lent, it is in this way that I would like to offer my reflections based on our readings and God’s invitations for us, to listen well.

In any conversations or whenever a person speaks, teaches, tells a story or explains, we who are the listeners may actually show “bad listening practices[1].” This is done intently by us or  unaware that we are doing it already. Hence, I would like first to identify these bad listening practices so that we may become aware of them and challenge ourselves to become an effective listener.

Types of Bad Listening Practices

First is INTERRUPTING especially when it is done to dominate and overpower the one who is speaking. Though not all interruptions are bad, however, when our interruption causes confusion, distorted information and competition, then we lose real conversation and not able to listen well.

Second is DISTORTED LISTENING. This happens in many ways like having a wrong story, or lacking information to a story that we communicate. Sometimes  also the real story has been added with other misleading information. This is the cause of more tensions and conflicts because when we begin to communicate we pass a distorted story and distorted information. This is actually common in many communities and even organizations. This breeds gossips, malicious attacks against another and defamation. People who listen to distorted stories tend to believe it and at times even add more distortions to it.

Third is EAVESDROPPING that involves intentional and a planned attempt to secretly listen to a conversation. Like for example, we saw some people talking in a corner then we pretend to do something until we come near them in order to listen to what they are talking about. This is indeed a bad practice because this is a violation of a person’s privacy. Moreover, people who eavesdrop tend to get wrongful information as well. This also creates, when caught, damage to inter-personal relationships and causes hurtful feelings.

Fourth is AGGRESSIVE LISTENING. A person really listen well, however, it has the intention to ambush and attack the one who is speaking. It criticizes another person’s ideas, personalities or the characteristics of the person. This usually happens to people who are already very familiar with like couples, friends and those who have been together in a group or organization for a very long time.

Fifth is NARCISSISTIC LISTENING. It is a self-absorbed and self-centered form of listening. We pretend to listen to a person sharing a story, however, we interrupt and bring the conversation back to ourselves. It never respects and acknowledges the feelings of the one speaking, but rather, it tries to divert the attention towards ourselves. Like for example, “Your story is nothing compared to mine,” or “if I were you, I would do like this,” or “That remind me of the time when I was (at your age/the one in charge/there in your place…)

Sixth is PSEUDO-LISTENING. You must be familiar with a family member or a friend or someone you know who repeats a story hundreds of times and you have already memorized it. In order not to offend the person, we pretend to listen well but not. We may nod our head or even complete the sentence. This “act” is pseudo-listening. Yet, when it becomes our habit this bad listening creates negative and even painful consequences in our relationships because we do not listen well at all.

So, what kind of bad listening behavior do we have? We may have one or more bad listening practices actually. But be aware that having such bad listening practices in our relationships do not help us and do not help the community. What God wants of us is to listen well so that we may respond well.

Biblical Significance

Take for example the story of Abraham. Despite the risk that he had to take by sacrificing his own son, Isaac, Abraham listened to the Lord God and responded to him. As a father, Abraham must have a heavy heart. Yet, he listened well. That was done, as the Book of Genesis told us, to test Abraham’s capacity to trust in God. Indeed, God saw the faithful heart of Abraham and spared Isaac.

By this capacity to listen well to God’s command, Abraham became a blessing to many. By listening well to God, Abraham became the father of faith to us.

This is the very invitation that we find in the Gospel of Mark today. The voice of the Father in Heaven tells us, “This is my beloved son. Listen to him!”

However, notice also how Peter responded to this mystery. He interrupted and suggested to Jesus to stay there, to build three tents.

The Gospel told us that, “Peter hardly knew what to say because they were so terrified.” Yet, at that very moment what matters most was not to say anything, but TO LISTEN.

To speak and to interrupt was actually an temptation. Not to fully listen to what was happening would deprive Peter to understand fully the mystery that was being unfolded before them.

Hence, the invitation was “LISTEN TO HIM!” – to listen to Jesus, to his way of life, his challenges for us, to his heart and mind. This way of life of Jesus entails struggles, pain, sacrifices, suffering, and even death. Yet, it does not end there. There is also the glorious resurrection. This is the meaning why the cloths and face of Jesus was transfigured.

Jesus’ capacity to listen well to the Father and to respond well to the Father brings transformation. Again, this was how Abraham was transformed into a blessing to all.

For all of us today, listen well, listen to Jesus! Listen to Jesus’ heart and mind! Do not be tempted to listen to Satan’s deception and lies. Do not listen to distorted stories! Do not listen to gossips and malicious attacks against your neighbor that intend to bring division and pain! Because when we do that, we become children of the father of lies and evil.

Listen to Jesus! Listen to the Gospel! – that we may be transformed and become a blessing to our families, friends and communities and not become a curse to many.

As an assignment, make it your habit to read the Bible, reflect on it and pray over it that we may able to listen to Jesus. Hinaut pa!

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[1] According to https://open.lib.umn.edu/communication/chapter/5-2-barriers-to-effective-listening/