Listening as a Way of Life

Over twenty four years ago I began a process of deep listening to God. I had a volunteer ministry in a hospital offering massages to parents of sick children. Being a licensed massage therapist was prayerful, profound work for me, that took me to places of deep listening. I listened to people. I listened to God. I listened to myself. Eventually I discerned from all this listening that I needed to do more. So I entered a dual degree program to acquire a Masters of Divinity and a Masters of Social Work, intending to be a hospital chaplain providing opportunities to guide people into deep healing of mind, body, and spirit. I had not yet decided if I was going to do this as an ordained person, that came later. It was difficult to listen to God and discern if I was called to the priesthood when I was already in seminary, surrounded by people who had already made that decision and had it affirmed by the lay committees, diocesan committees, and Bishops. Eventually I did make that decision and it was affirmed by all the people who needed to affirm it. 

However, I did not end up serving as hospital chaplain. By the time I was finished with my formal education I had heard another call, one that I had rejected initially because I knew it would be hard, but it was a call to parish ministry. While my call to the priesthood took an unexpected turn, I can only say now, 18 years into it, that I believe I heard God correctly and have lived faithfully the vocation God intended for me. 

Yesterday a number of us attended the ordination of Halim to the priesthood. It was a day that culminated many years of prayer and discernment of him. And already his life as a priest is not turning out exactly as he thought it would, because he is here in Dearborn, not Lebanon, and he is being called into a ministry he never imagined. I suspect, however, that following this call is just what God intends for Halim.

Soon Mitch will be ordained. He too has a sense of call, and it will be interesting to see how God calls him forward into ministry.

This parish has just spent a year in prayer and discernment, listening to God and pondering how we are being called into new life, what our purpose is here and now as Christ Church in Dearborn. I doubt that any of us knew last year what we know this year. It’s been a difficult year but in the end I believe we’ve heard God well and our decision to claim three goals for this parish is a response to that listening. Our goals are: deepen spirituality, engage in works of justice, and build relationships with ourselves, with the groups who use this building, and with the wider community. As we strive to live into these goals I suspect that God will take us places we never imagined. It is what God does, and how God works.

Likewise we hear stories in our scripture readings this morning of people listening to God. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus is listening to God even though he does not fully know who he is or what is purpose is. Still he knows that he is called to bring forth God’s love into the world and to do that in radical ways - to literally love every one: the poor, the sick, the taxpayers, women, even the rich young man. Jesus’ family is not so certain that they are comfortable with how Jesus is living his life, they fear for him and want to contain him so he stays safe. At least they do that for awhile. I can’t imagine the Mary - who took a big risk for God to birth Jesus, nor Joseph who took big risk for God by staying with Mary - are actually fearful people who live limited, small lives. I suspect they get on board with Jesus and embrace his ministry. We know for certain that Mary was with him to the very end, risking even her own life to be at the foot of the cross. But at least for today his family appears to be fearful. And when we are fearful it is more difficult to listen to God. Our fear closes us off to possibility and we live smaller, more narrow lives.

Paul knew something about living a smaller life. Before he became a Christian he persecuted Christians. Then he literally had his sight taken away from him and new sight given to him - he because a Christian and began to work for good of all people. His letters to the churches aim to teach people how to live the Gospel, how to live in relationship with one another as Jesus taught, how to live by loving one’s self, loving others, and loving God. In today’s reading he talks about the nature of God’s presence with us, like a tent, a garment - God surrounds us and remains with us as we strive to do the work that God has called forth in us.

And then we our reading from the Faces of Our Faith curriculum, today the story of Deborah from Judges. We’ve heard the story of the creation of human beings, the story of Shiphrah and Puah who saved the Hebrew boys at birth which lead to the birth of Moses. To Moses leading the people into exile and five daughters of Zelophehed who had the courage to speak up and claim their father’s land, and now the story of Deborah. We are moving through the books of the Hebrew Bible and hearing the story of the formation of God’s people. Today’s story tells about the judge and prophet Deborah who gave wise counsel to Barak, the military commander. The battle fought in this text takes place in the promised land as the Hebrew people claim what they believe God has given to them. Deborah models a strong woman, faithfully listening to God, and Barak models someone who is willing to take the time to seek counsel, even from a woman, and listen before charging into battle. 

Listening is clearly a theme for our readings and for our common life together. Last week a number of us participated in the Faithwalking retreat where we practiced active listening - listening to the presenters as they taught us some of the foundational principles of Faithwalking. We spent time listening to God and reflecting deeply into our own lives. We practiced listening to each other. Do you know that the average person only listens to another person for 3-9 seconds before we stop listening and begin to formulate our argument back. And once we stop listening we have no idea what the person has actually said. In practicing active listening we were working on not responding, not judging, not arguing, not debating. Just listening and being able to say, I hear you. I hear you.

Being heard is a profound experience for both the person who was heard and for those listening. Listening to God, is a curious act of actually listening and hearing deeply the truth of one’s own life. God will only lead one more deeply into one’s most authentic sense of self. God can only do that when one takes the time to listen deeply. 

Today marks the end of a program year. We will celebrate a number of life transitions and give thanks for the ways we have grown in life and faith. It also marks new beginnings: for Halim, for this parish, for each of us. I’m excited and curious to see where God will lead us. I hopeful that we will step out in faith, courageously taking on the challenges that God has given us, trusting that God is with us, clothing us in faith, hope, love, so that this church can be its most authentic self in the world today.

Reflection on the readings for today: Proper 5B ( Psalm 130, 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1, Mark 3:20-35, and from the Faces of Our Faith curriculum - Judges 4-5)