"If you are willing and obey you shall eat the good things of the Lord." The Lord had a lot to say in both Scripture readings today, including telling us that we shall eat the good things of the Lord. To secure these good things: hope, happiness, joy, and peace, He asks us to be willing, and to have ears to hear.
We can ask God for the serenity to accept the things we cannot change and the courage to change the things that we can. When we are willing and ready to obey the Lord, it will challenge us; because it asks us to rely more on God and His ways, and less on ours.
The prophet Isaiah asks us to listen to instructions from God, one of which is to make justice our aim; to make what is wrong right, to hear the orphan’s plea and defend the widow. Concretely how are we to do this? Some among us feel helpless and do not know how to respond but this at least reveals an awareness of the need to do something and for many that may be all that we can do for now.
Another way that God asks if we are willing and have ears open to hearing involves prayer. Prayer glorifies him more than sacrificial offerings.
This past Sunday we had a lesson in what prayer is and does. Jesus took Peter, James, and John up the mountain to pray and while praying Jesus changed in appearance. It was an overwhelming experience for Peter, James, and John to witness. No words spoken, no psalms recited instead Jesus looked upon God the Father and God the Father looked upon him. There was a communion that manifested itself outwardly through a light that was overwhelming and words that declared Jesus to be the Son of God. It was a moment that we too can experience when in our prayer we look upon the heart of Jesus and allow him to penetrate our hearts. We will know this happens when we experience an inner glow.
The Scriptures today say that God is drawing up these thoughts before our eyes. He is pointing out the right way for us to follow, the way that will lead to our salvation.
Let him who has ears to hear, hear and eyes to see, see.
