“This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!”

This fundamental command from the Father is directed wholly to our well-being and joy; ultimately to love.  Listening to God’s Word is the most fundamental and principal act of our lives.  It precedes even the search for food, drink and shelter for “seek first his kingdom and all these will also be given you.”  Is not contemplation (listening) of God’s Word the greatest act of faith, hope and love that we can offer?  “What is the work of God?” they asked Jesus.  “Have faith in the one whom he sent.” (John 6.29)

He himself is the Good News, the uttermost longing of our hearts.  It was not to punish us and impose a new moral law that he became incarnate but to give us the fullness of the revelation that God is love and he became man to set us free of our fear of death by dying himself (Hebrews 2.15).  The moral requirements of this reality are obvious: the kingdom has already come and sin has no part in it.  By sinning we willingly place ourselves outside of the banquet and through repentance we return and are welcomed back.

Let us then discipline ourselves and acquire the habit of fruitful listening to God’s Word – at least daily.  Let us avoid the enemies of this fruitful listening – dissipation and distraction.  Remember our Lord held up Mary as the model.  She chose the better part by listening to Him, while Martha was worried and distracted (Luke 10.38-42).  If we, too, chose the better part, what is left to fear?  The only thing you may say is “I fear that it will end, for I know now it is the only thing necessary.  I fear I will lose him through negligence or sloth.”  “Fear nothing, for fear is useless,” he says.  “Trust only is required.”  “You have now chosen the better part and it will not be taken from you.”  Our Lord jealously guards the souls of those who obey him.

What is the outcome of those who hear and hold the Word in a good heart?  Stunning fruitfulness.  We might not see it in this life but we must believe Our Lord when he says we will bear fruit thirty, sixty and a hundredfold (Mark 4.20).

All actions must flow out of this contemplative attentiveness to God’s Word.  We do not act then turn to the Word for rest, we receive our marching orders from him first.  All our actions can then have a profound meaning, for we are doing what he tells us to.