“Seek to listen to the voice of the Lord and to be faithful to His Holy Will!”

(Based on 2 Sam 7:4-17 and Mk 4:1-20 – Wednesday of the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2)

Miss Clara, a fourth-grade Cathecism teacher told her kids one day:
“Children, let me tell you today about a quiet man – who used to be immersed into much reading and writing.

This man was big and gentle, but because he stayed silent, people thought he wasn’t very smart.

One day, his friends played a trick on him.
As he was busy writing, pointed to the window and shouted, ‘Look, there’s an angel!’

He ran to see, but there was nothing there. Everyone laughed.”

“But do you know how he responded?”
Miss Clara continued, “He said, ‘I’d rather believe there was an angel than think my friends would lie.’

He didn’t fight back nor get angry. He didn’t care if people laughed at him or thought he was slow.

He only cared about doing what God wanted him to do.”

People often teased him, calling him as ‘The Dumb Ox,’…
… but his mentor had so much confidence in him that he said, ‘This ox will one day roar so loud, that the whole world will hear him.’

And that’s exactly what happened!”

Her voice softened as she continued, “That quiet man was St. Thomas Aquinas.

He is today one of the greatest saints in the Church.
And he became great because he always, with prayer and trust, chose to do God’s Will.”

Yes….
Life is not about what others think of you!

It’s about…
… listening to the voice of the Lord!
… being faithful to His Holy Will!

This is what is expounded by Jesus in the Gospel of the Day…
… the Parable of the Sower.

The Gospel begins with St Mark mentioning that “a very large crowd gathered around him…” (Mk 4:1)

The people were growing in excitement to know and experience the person of Jesus
… His miraculous works and welcoming attitude had generated much hope and expectation

The Lord however, doesn’t allow Himself to be captivated by mere peripheral knowledge and trifle expectations!

He sows the “seeds of truth” and invites them to purify their intentions in being His follower!

And so, with the crowds swelling around, He exhorts his “large followers” with a pertinent term: “LISTEN!” (Cf Mk 4:3)

LISTEN to the voice of the Lord and examine what type of a follower are you…

Are you someone who only casually listens to the Word – like the seed that fell on the path
… failing to give any space for the Lord to work in your life or allowing the birds of the evil one to devour the graces of the Lord?

Are you someone who is only emotionally attracted to the Word – like the seed that fell on rocky ground…
… failing to allow the Word to take deeper roots in life or getting scorched when the sun of struggles and difficulties blaze brightly?

Are you someone who fails to give priority to the Word – like the seed that fell among the thorns…
… failing to give the first place to the Kingdom of God and allowing the thorny desires and fleeting pleasures of the world to take control of life?

OR

Can we be the one who receives the Word with much devotion and preparation – like the seed that fell into good soil…
… and allowing His Word to take total possession of life and allowing His Word to bear much fruit?

May the Word of God always have a transformative effect in our lives, as we seek to always…
… listen to the voice of the Lord!
… be faithful to His Holy Will!

Today as we celebrate the Feast of St Thomas Aquinas, the great Doctor and Theologian…
… let us learn to humble ourselves before the Almighty Power of God

Towards the end of his life – this great learned person who had written much on the Lord…
… during prayer, Christ is said to have told him, “You have written well of me, Thomas. >> What reward would you have for your labour?”
Thomas replied, “Nothing but you, Lord.”

Let us be inspired by this Great Saint…
… who humbled himself before the Will of God
… as we learn from him, “The Mystery and the Will of God is not to be solved or understood, but to be adored and loved!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!