Friar’s Corner: Listening to Jesus

Fr. Bob Hilz, TOR

Genesis 18:1-10a; Ps 15:2-5; Colossians 1:24-28; Luke 10:38-41

This gospel story of St. Luke is one of my favorites. Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem and is teaching his friends as they travel with him. It follows the story of the Greatest Commandment and the Good Samaritan. This story takes place at the home and estate of Martha, Mary and Lazarus, good friends of Jesus. His followers stayed with them when they came for Jewish feasts in Jerusalem. Some also stayed at the home of St. Mark’s mother in the city.

Today’s story relates to the prayer and service of Jesus’ disciples. Martha invited Jesus to come to their house. When he did, she was busy getting things ready for such a wonderful guest. Mary was the quiet one and so enamored with Jesus’ presence that she just sat next to him listening and absorbing his every word. Would that also thrill you? It often does me.

So in these few sentences, Martha is running around getting some food and doing other things. This is discipleship service, which is a good thing. Yet when Jesus is present, wouldn’t we want just to be there absorbed in all that Jesus would want to give us? We can call this listening contemplation. We can get enveloped in Jesus’ words. As we get filled with Jesus’ light and power, we can float in those graces and just enjoy.

Focus on Jesus

As I write this to you, I just want to focus you on your special times with Jesus. We want to keep our eyes focused on Jesus, Hebrews 12:2, and listen to his words especially by daily reading a gospel story about Jesus. We become nourished by those words and filled up. When Jesus finishes filling us up, his Holy Spirit may send us to share his goodness with those whom we shall meet during that day.

Last evening I was with a priest friend at Haas’s restaurant. There were a young father and his cute young daughter in a high chair, perhaps less than a year old. I went over to thank him for saying yes to life. His first look at me was a bit puzzled. Then I pointed to his daughter and said how precious they are. He agreed.

Two scriptures and a hymn

I’ll close with two scriptures and a hymn. St. John takes a whole chapter to explain Jesus as the “bread of life.” Many could not accept this teaching. Jesus asked the twelve apostles if they wanted to leave him. “Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God, John 6:68.” Jesus, please help us to listen and follow you.

Jesus also said in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all you who are weary and overburdened, and I will give you rest.” As Jesus lives in all of us who have been baptized, he invites us deeper into his life so we could sing from our hearts this old American folk song

Just a closer walk with thee,
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea;
Daily walking close to thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

This is my prayer for all of you, who are reading this, and your families and parishes. May Jesus fill you with great delights as you spend some daily time with him.

Blessings,

+  Father Bob Hilz
fbhilz@gmail.com

(© 2019 Father Bob Hilz, TOR)