18 January 2015
Second Sunday of Ordinary Time
The Psalm today says that “I have waited, waited for the Lord.” The Psalmist describes the relationship between himself and God, where he listens in obedience, the Lord gives him aid, and he then proclaims the glory of the Lord. The law of God is not a matter of externals, but written on his very heart. But our response to God does not occur in a vacuum, and things take time to sink into the heart.
We see three examples of people listening to God: Eli, the out of practice prophet, Samuel, the young man who wants to listen to God but has no experience, and John the Baptist, the great and attentive prophet of Jesus. When Samuel hears God’s voice, he “was not familiar with the Lord,” and it took some time for Eli to realize that God is calling Samuel. John, on the other hand, has been vigilantly attentive to the Lord, and passed this on to the disciples. When Jesus passes by, John does not hesitate, and the disciples he has trained likewise show no hesitation.
Waiting for the Lord is not a passive enterprise. The habit of listening is like any other habit–something developed over time. In daily life, praying St. Ignatius’ Examination of Conscience can help us cultivate the ability to wait for the Lord. Knowing Jesus in the Eucharist can likewise help us to recognize His presence elsewhere in the world. As we wait for the Lord, we must do more than twiddle our thumbs–how do we anticipate His presence, and how do we cultivate the ability to listen to His voice?