Listening to the heart: a Lenten invitation

Scripture for Mass

Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7

Psalm 51(50): 3-4. 5-6b. 12-13. 14, 17.   Response: cf. 3a

Romans 5:12-19

Matthew 4:1-11

Walking one’s dog while listening to a podcast on headphones is common. Similarly, people use earphones to listen to music during work, or earbuds to engage in phone conversation while hiking. Indeed, we have become accustomed to listening to whatever we choose, anytime, anywhere.

However, in a world where our ears are bombarded by external sounds, the tune that we are becoming increasingly deaf to is the one that is constantly playing in our own heart.

After the profound experience of his baptism at the river Jordan, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness. A spacious and quiet place, without external distractions, there he could listen attentively to his inmost self.

As he became accustomed to the solitude and the silence, Jesus came to sense that there was a tug of war going on deep inside himself – a battle between his yearning to serve God and his craving for self-adulation – and that he couldn’t remain on the sidelines. Moreover, he came to realise that the way forward wasn’t as simple as choosing to be on God’s side, rather he needed to draw on God’s word – his guidance and help – to get to God’s side.

During the season of Lent, we are invited to take time out from our noisy world and listen to our own heart. There, we will surely find a similar battle raging between opposed forces for our time, our energies, and our talents. However, through prayer we too can rely on God’s guidance and grace to enable us to choose truth, goodness and life.