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Word To Life
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Sunday Scripture Readings: Jan. 20, 2008
By Sharon K. Perkins
Catholic News Service
January 20, Second Sunday in Ordinary Time.
Cycle A Readings:
1) Isaiah 49:3, 5-6
Psalm 40:2, 4, 7-10
2) 1 Corinthians 1:1-3
Gospel: John 1:29-34
A few years ago I had the pleasure -- and the challenge -- of teaching 3-year-olds. Their inquisitive, energetic nature sometimes made it difficult to get their attention or maintain their focus. For instance, one particularly active little boy simply did not respond when I called him from across the room.
What I had to learn early on is that the best way to communicate with people half my size was to get down on their level. For one thing, crouching or sitting down while talking to a toddler makes it easier for both parties to hear. But more importantly, establishing eye contact at the child's level helps him or her to feel respected and important. I found that with my rambunctious toddler boys, specific instructions were best given after I had taken the time to truly listen, face-to-face, eyeball-to-eyeball.
In this Sunday's readings there are several examples of God's special call to different people and their responses to that call.
But before the call can be issued, before a response can be returned, there is the assurance that God has surely listened to our cries. Indeed we are able to have "ears open to obedience" because God models what it means to be a good listener. In much the same way that I crouch to a toddler's level in order to converse more effectively, God meets us halfway by "stooping toward us," not merely with eyes and ears, but in the person of his son, Jesus, who makes possible our communication with God at its most profound level.
The waiting of Advent is at an end and the feast of Christmas has passed. But the ongoing exchange between God and humanity depends in part upon our predisposition -- our willingness to place ourselves in a posture of obedient listening.
QUESTIONS:
How has the Lord heard your cry lately? In what way can you predispose yourself to hear what God's call is to you?
SCRIPTURE TO BE ILLUSTRATED:
"He stooped toward me and heard my cry" (Psalm 40:2).
END
Copyright © 2006 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS Word To Life column may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service.
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