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Listening
The ability to listen is the first spiritual attitude
to be practised by a person who wants to become a
follower or a searcher of the face of Christ.
The conditions to listen should be prepared in one's
heart: silence above all, but also the effort to put
aside worries, troubles, the temptation to talk to
oneself...in order to make place to the voice of the
Lord.
Every "spiritual journey" starts by listening.
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Indications of
biblical passages
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Spiritual exercise to pray the
Word of God
We can be
aware of the presence of God in the Word (Jn 1, 1-14)
John's prologue introduces us to the mystery of God which
is Word; the Word became flesh so that man may know God
(Heb.1,1-2).
"God became man so that man can become God.".
Let's
prepare our body as well to listen (Lk 10, 39)
With reference to Lk.10,39, we can discover Mary's
attitude of prayer when she "sits at Jesus'
feet" expressing also with her body the desire to
accept the Word.
Let's
nourish our life with the Word of God (Am 8,11)
The prophet warns that God is tired speaking without
being listened to; only those who are hungry and thirsty
of his Word will find salvation.
The Word
communicates here, today (Ne 8, 1-7)
The passage presents a "theology of the liturgy of
the word".
That way of reading the Word will be the same way Jesus
will read it in the synagogue; He will apply the
scriptures to today fulfilling the contents in himself.
"This prophecy is being fulfilled today", the
text achieves a "today" in Christ, a sense of
the present moment. (Lk.4,21).
By virtue of the Spirit, we feel the scriptures are
topical (this reading today speaks to me in an intimate
and very personal way): the meeting with the Word is a
meeting with God. I do not read, but I LISTEN to
Him who loves me and speaks to me here and today. Like in
every meeting the whole person is involved: intelligence,
feelings, imagination....
Effectiveness
of the Word (Lk 7, 1-10)
The Word of God is announced in an effective way, i.e. it
accomplishes what it says and it is accomplished when it
becomes action.
Think of the faith of the Roman centurion (Lk.7,1-10):
his servant is sick and he sends for Jesus to heal him...
then he goes to meet him and says: "I am not worthy
that you enter under my roof, but give the word and let
my servant be cured."
This is the faith in the Word: Jesus does not have to
bless, the Word is enough. The centurion was well aware
of the power of the Word. He had authority; he could say
to a servant: "Do this" and he did it;
"Go" and he went etc.
The prayer of a pagan becomes ours every time we say:
"Lord I am not worthy to stay at your table, but
just say one word and I will be cured!"
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