In the cable TV episodes of Inside the Actors’ Studio, James Lipton interviews actors, writers, and directors in Hollywood. He always ends the interview in the same way, by asking his guest this question: "If you believe that God exists, what do you think He will say when you finally see Him?" It’s a great question. In one episode he was interviewing one of the truly great film directors of all time, the legendary Steven Spielberg. Remember the movie, E.T. The Extraterrestrial? When Lipton asked Spielberg, "What do you hope God will say to you when you finally see Him?" Spielberg paused for a few moments, smiled, and said...
"Thanks for listening."
In fifty years of ministry as a priest I have come to realize just a few bits of wisdom that I am confident enough to offer to others. One bit of wisdom: everyone on earth has the same desire that God has. They want to be listened to. We make a big mistake, I believe, when we try to solve problems or match their unique experience of distress or anxiety with our own. In the family, so many problems and hurts are healed by compassionate listening with the heart.
Karl Barth, towering figure in Christian thought in the 20th century was asked by a student in class, "Sir, don’t you think God has revealed Himself in other religions besides Christianity?" The professor knocked many of the students in the class for a loop when he thundered back, "NO! God has not revealed Himself in any religion, including Christianity. He has revealed Himself in His Son!"
Every family needs time together to listen to each other as they work at household tasks, or spend time together playing and enjoying fun activities.
Some parents even take a child or teen on a lunch date or movie time to let the child know that she/he is special and listened to.
Families benefit from taking time to talk and listen as a whole family about what is important to each one individually, and to what is important to the entire family. And families especially benefit from taking time to pray together at home and in Church. Perhaps it’s grace at meals, bedtime prayers, family Rosary prayer nights that create unbreakable bonds of unity, love, peace. Families have the gift of the Rosary, and the Rosary is a "ladder to heaven!"
Jesus openly wept at least three times in the Gospels. Onetime He weeps over Jerusalem who was not listening, and consequently did not recognize the time of it's visitation.
Families benefit most of all from listening to God - sometimes speaking through the youngest and most innocent child.
Thanks for Listening.
Father Wilfred J. Raymond, C.S.C. (Father Willy), a native of Old Town, Maine, is the eighth of 12 children. He joined the Congregation of Holy Cross in 1964 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1971. He earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Stonehill College in 1967 and a master’s in Theology from the University of Notre Dame in 1971. He served in ministry at Stonehill College (1979-1992), Holy Cross leadership (1994-2000), National Director of Family Theater Productions, Hollywood (2000-2014), and President of Holy Cross Family Ministries (2014-2022). In addition to English, he is conversant in French and Spanish. He remains a diehard fan of the Boston Red Sox, even though he has served as Chaplain for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
