Listen, listen, listen!

If the essence of the Gospel is Christ in us, what is left for us to do?

Tonight, during a conversation about the Gospel, I asked this question of a person who has been discovering, with great joy, the depth of the mystery proclaimed by Paul:

Christ in us, the hope of glory.

The question seemed simple, but the answer did not come easily.

And perhaps that happens because we are so used to thinking about what we need to do that we do not always notice what God is accomplishing in us.

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What we do not yet see

Jesus told Nicodemus that no one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again. And that no one can enter the Kingdom unless he is born of water and the Spirit.

And he added:

“The wind blows where it wishes, you hear its voice, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Faith is the conviction of realities we do not see.

But how can we see what our eyes cannot reach?

Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

Abraham heard the call and set out without knowing where he was going.

And Jesus, when asked about the greatest commandment, began his answer by saying:

“Hear, O Israel…”

Everything begins with listening.

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The letter and the Spirit

Paul wrote that, when Moses was read, a veil remained over the hearts of those who listened. But when someone turned to the Lord, the veil was taken away.

Could it be that we too run the risk of knowing the Gospels deeply and still not perceiving what God is revealing?

“The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”

Knowledge is valuable, but it does not replace life.

The Spirit teaches, leads and produces his fruit.

And the fruit begins with love.

Not by our strength or by our power, but by the Spirit of the Lord.

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Listen, listen, listen!

Jesus said:

“Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.”

And also:

“My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”

Listening is not just remembering what was said in the past. It is being attentive to the one who speaks today.

Now.

The righteous live by faith.

The children of God are led by the Spirit.

And faith works through love.

Listen, listen, listen.

And, as you listen, give heed.

“If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”

Until Christ is formed in us.