Listen Up!

Much of our astronomical knowledge today comes from listening rather than looking, The listeners are "radio astronomers" whose enormous antennas constantly scan the skies for squawks, beeps, and hums that reveal far more about the universe than the eye can see. It may even be the only way of detecting possible life in space.

"listening with the heart" may be the only way we will ever detect the most subtle needs of humans all around us - far more than can be seen by the eye. When people speak to us, we usually pay attention only to the obvious meaning of their words, but neglect to hear a deeper underlying message, not fully articulated. Only by listening with our heart can we meet them in their suffering, reach out with empathy to heal their hurts, budge the vast distance of their emotional and spiritual isolation.

By listening to the below-the-surface messages of hurting persons, we acquire a side effect of becoming more aware of our own prejudices, selfishness, and lack of concern for others. A truly good listener begins to hae the attitude of Christ (See Philippians 2:5), who enables comfort to flow through us (see 2 Corinthians 1:5) as we perceive persons' needs the way God does. We thus learn to respond with his love and pity: "I have indeed seen the misery of my people....I have heard them crying out.....i am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them" (Ex 3:7-8).

This excerpt is from the book One-Minute Meditations for Busy People, by John H. Hampsch, C.M.F., originally published by Servant Publications. It and other of Fr. Hampsch's books and audio/video recordings can be purchased from Claretian Teaching Ministry, 20610 Manhattan Pl, #120, Torrance, CA 90501-1863. Phone 1-310-782-6408 or www.Catholicbooks.net