One of the most powerful recipe for any successful relationship or career path which sometimes passes unnoticed is listening. I have come to discover that irrespective of how zealous one may be at rendering service, once listening is missing, that service passes off as mere distraction. It could also be dangerous as it could lead to loss of lives. I recall a comedy skit I saw some time ago that so much depicted the value of listening. It was the video of a boss directing his apprentice over the phone on how to fix an electrical fault in a building.
This overzealous apprentice kept acting before instruction. His impetuousness eventually resulted to an explosion. In our Gospel reading from Lk. 10:38-42, we witnessed what seemed like a conflict of value between two sisters, Mary and Martha. A conflict of value that was harmonised in the person of Abraham in our first, even though it was in the reverse order. Christ alternates this order and sets the priority right with Mary and Martha. Abraham in our first reading from Gen.18:1-10a had just encountered three angels in guise of men and he begged to serve them. Whilst he served these men, he didn’t get busy with any other thing, he stood by them under the tree while they ate, and he listened. So, he served, and listened. It was while he was standing by them that the promise of a son which he had so waited for was confirmed to him.
Apparently, by Abraham’s gesture, we learn that those who are able to listen, obtain blessings. However, the irony of it many a time, is that we miss out on God’s blessings because we seat as though we are colleagues with those whom we should be actually listening to and learning from. Come to think of it, nothing should actually stop us from listening to our colleagues if we come to discover that they are better informed. We must watch not to let pride or Ego come in between us and listening because listening is life. Abraham, served and listened and he was blessed. Jesus however alternates this order in our Gospel reading. He does not remove one for the other because both are equally important. He rather places the more important one before the less important one.
He puts listening before serving. From this, we therefore see how Jesus amicably resolved what would have erupted into a dispute between two sisters. His intervention becomes a divine lesson for us to follow. By this intervention, Jesus introduces the order of heavenly proceedings and protocols on earth. An order that exalts obedience over sacrifice, because sacrifice without obedience amounts to rebellion. In the heavenly realm, listening is synonymous with obedience. Samuel says to Saul in I Sam.15:22-23, “Obedience is better than sacrifice and presumption is a crime of idolatry.” The angels in heaven don’t act on presumption or assume roles they were not assigned.
The first angel to ever attempt that, that is, Lucifer met with utter shame and banishment. Instead, angels in heaven listen, they take instructions and then execute the orders given to them. The letter to the Hebrews 1:14 refers to angels as ministering spirits, that is, messengers. Now, if angels in heaven understand the importance of listening and abide strongly by it, listening is therefore not something we should take for granted. You may have noticed that this order introduced by Christ, that is, listening before serving is what happens at every Mass. During the Mass, we are always expected to listen keenly to the readings and the homily.
By listening, we discover how God speaks to us through them to warm our hearts, ignite our faith and wet our appetites. Our faith is ignited through listening because faith comes by hearing the Word of God. (Rm.10:17) We have our appetites wetted to receive from the table of the Eucharist which would be served to us by the Priests. We do not take it ourselves, rather we are served that we may learn by that act of service to serve others. You see that the order remains the same. One thing is certain, everyone including plants and animals wants to be listened to, the more reason the virtue of listening becomes a double necessity.
In listening, we come to understand the true needs of people, and how to address them. It is through listening that we come to decipher God’s will for us during prayer, and one of the most powerful ways of communicating with God is by listening. The young Samuel upon the directive of Eli said to God, “speak for your servant is listening.” (I Sam.3:10) Listening is therapeutic and it brings peace. Know this for sure, one who listens gains more. Jesus confirms this when he said to Martha who was worried about Mary’s non-compliance with house chores, that Mary had chosen the better part by listening.
• Rev. Fr. Paul Mbah, Associate Priest, Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, Northern Foreshore, Lagos.
