In the second week of Lent, you are invited to reflect on what and how you listen … How what you hear affects your life …
During the day, you get a lot of information, some of them give you joy, others worry. You hear orders, requests, invitations and refusals. But before you answer them, think about whether you hear the voice of God who wants to speak to you in the depths of your heart? Do you hear his quiet whisper of love that does not accuse, suspect, judge, but above all raises, strengthensand shows the way out of many difficult situations?
Merciful Jesus invites you just like St. Faustina: ”Bring your ear close to My Heart, forget everything else, and meditate upon My wondrous mercy. My love will give you the strength
and courage”(Diary 229).
Only when you hear God’s voice and what He wants to tell you, will you be able to hear what other people are really saying to you. You will not pass your problems on them, you will not suspect or judge them, but you will be sensitive to their suffering. Then you will become a man of mercy …
Try to repeat every time you hear something that will apparently arouse your anger, resentment or outrage: “Help me, that my ears may be merciful, so that I may give heed to my neighbors’ needs and not be indifferent to their pains and moanings” (Diary 163).
Courage!