This is the fourth article in a series on prayer written by Sr. Celine as part of the preparation for the Jubilee Year 2025. The first article focused on prayer as a spiritual oasis, the second on prayer as power, and the third on prayer as being in the presence of the Lord. This fourth article centres on prayer as listening.
We live in a world of incessant noise. Almost everywhere we go and whatever we do, we are constantly bombarded with distractions—images and sounds from TV and social media, conversations with friends and neighbours, and the activities of family and surroundings. Listening has become a lost art in our modern culture. Rarely do we get quiet time together with our families without some kind of distraction. Seeking a quiet place to spend time with God or with ourselves is not always easy. Too often, we find ourselves challenged and confused about what we should do in a given situation or what is truly the most important thing in our lives.
LEARNING TO LISTEN IS AN ART
Learning to listen is a process that involves great desire, quality time, much effort, patience, and persistence. It is demanding inner work – a desire to listen just for the sake of listening, beyond words and any personal agenda. Not many people know how to do it. Staying silent until the other person stops talking is not the same as listening, and thinking about what to say next while the other person speaks is not the same as listening either. To listen to others, we need to close our eyes, shut our lips, open our ears, and connect our hearts.
Sr. Celine D’Cunha FMA
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