LISTEN & RESPOND

March 1, 2026 – Second Sunday of Lent

Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/030126.cfm)

Usually the word OBEDIENCE is associated with being compliant with an order or submission to the authority of other than oneself. This explains why we call someone who follows the law, willing to do what is commanded & submissive to the authority’s order as obedient person.

However for St. Benedict, the father of Western monasticism, there is more to obedience than just adherence to the rule & simple blind obedience without any question. Most especially in Christian faith & in spirituality, for St. Benedict, obedience entails listening & responding. What is essential then for our obedience to God is for us to listen intently & respond accordingly to God’s will & plans for us. For common sense teaches us that without listening, no response happens; with listening, better things may happen.

This is the kind of obedience Jesus expect of us when he said: “whoever has ears ought to hear”. Same obedience God expects of us in our gospel today, when he said: “This is my beloved Son…. listen to Him.” It is not enough then that we just simply obey what God has commanded of us, but moreso we have to hear & listen with discernment what is being said…. what we hear… what we say & what God is saying about being said….  Before we respond accordingly. Simply put, obedience is not just a matter of “Command & Obey” but moreso about “Listen & Respond”.

In other words, obedience to God is our responsibility – our ability to respond to God’s invitations & visitation for us at this very moment of our life in faith with Him.

Like Abraham in our first reading, what is expected of us then is not our blind submission & passive compliance, but our obedient response to God’s will & plan for us at this time with the assurance of His help, as Jesus  encourages us to “Rise and have no fear” in our faith-journey with Him.

While we “ought to hear” what God said and is saying to us now,  most especially during this Lenten season, may we listen & respond obediently & accordingly to what is being offered & in store for us for the better of our today & tomorrow now & always.

So May It Be. Amen.