January 13, Wednesday Weekday

Here I am, Lord: I come to do your will.-- Psalm 40:8 and 9

Mass readings:1 Samuel 3:1-10,19-20 / Mark 1:29-39

Precious Moments

The first few minutes after I awake each morning are some of my favorite of the day because in those precious moments I repeat a ritual that I've been doing since I was a child. I lie very still and listen for the chirping of the birds. Hearing their cheerful song always brings a sense of comfort to me. By listening intently I have learned to discriminate between different types of birds.

In the same way, we can learn to recognize God's voice amid all of the thoughts and distractions in our lives. Our faith tells us that the Lord truly does speak to us, maybe not audibly, but within the depth of our hearts. Like Samuel, we need to persevere in our listening so that we don't miss what the Lord has to say.

Prayer: Speak Lord, Your servant is listening!