Almighty and everlasting God, mercifully increase in us your gifts of holy discipline, in almsgiving, prayer and fasting; that our lives may be directed to the fulfilling of your most gracious will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
It’s All About Faith
Reflection on Matthew 1:18-2:12
Joseph and the aristocratic scholars from the East were individuals who paid attention and who were risk takers. To me paying attention means close listening. The prologue of St. Benedict’s Rule, a book of instructions written for monks and abbots living in community, speaks of “listening with the ear of your heart”. Listening is an attitude of openness and vulnerability. In our spiritual journey, it is being open to hearing the voice of the Spirit and being vulnerable to hearing something other than we expect to hear and then doing it.
Joseph was “a righteous man” who learning of Mary’s pregnancy “planned to dismiss her quietly.” But Joseph had a dream. “When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him.” One website said that Joseph was noted “for his willingness to immediately get up and do what God told him.” He answered with action. Risking the judgment of the Jewish law, he took Mary as his wife, offering her love and lineage. When the Child was born, he named him Jesus, surrendering his right to choose the name for his child. Joseph listened and entered into the mystery of Christ.
The scholars from the East, known as the three wisemen, also embarked on a risky journey attending the events of the night sky and learning from the special revelations of God’s words to them. Unlike Herod who feared the risk to his power, the wise men willing took risks to follow God and gain wisdom. They found the Child “who was to be born King of the Jews,” were caught up in the presence of God and paid Him homage. Then, warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they listened and again took action as they went home another way.
Our spiritual journey is about learning to listen and taking risks as well as action. As with Joseph and the wise men, keen listening will take us to some surprising places into and beyond the mystery of Christ.
The Rev. Margaret M. Kiss
Deacon
Cathedral of All Saints
1 comment:
I love this phrase, "Keen Listening"!!!
I wonder how we sharpen our listening skills to hear God speaking to us, especially given our culture's penchant for shouting opinions/mantras at each other?
I've often found it interesting that the "star" was visible to anyone who might have been paying attention. There it was, in plain sight, but only the outsiders, the Magi, saw it. Their keenness, their willingness to see new things and listen for new things seems a robust witness for those of us so well-schooled in the language of religiosity, our spiritual vision and hearing has been dulled by the familiarity.
To the ones with keen ears, let them hear!
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