| On Ash Wednesday (March 5), many of us will hear the words of Jesus recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, calling us to the three traditional disciplines of Lent: almsgiving, prayer, and fasting (Matthew 6:1-21). This call to intentional faith practices is nestled in the middle of the Sermon on the Mount. This well-known sermon of Jesus is filled with wise teachings and practices, including: the Beatitudes, The Lord’s Prayer, and the Golden Rule. As an Ash Wednesday discipline, I encourage you to take 14-15 minutes to listen to the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5-6-7) through an audio Bible experience. Click below to listen to the Sermon on the Mount through the Bible.Is website. |
| At the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus encourages His followers to be both hearers and doers of the word (Matthew 7:24-27). Jesus calls us to listen and to act. |
| Have you ever considered the call of Jesus to listen as a Lenten discipline? During this Year of Listening, I encourage you to seek out intentional ways to listen to God, to listen to others, and to listen to your community. |
| Listening to God through Scripture, prayer, and silence helps us to connect with the ways and the will of the Living God. Listening to God helps us to hear what is right and true, which is a stark contrast to so much of what we hear on social media, radio talk shows, and from our political leaders. |
| Listening to others through study and deliberation helps us to connect with the people God has placed in our lives. The journey of faith (including the discipline of Lent) is not a solo act, but a corporate opportunity. Please take some time during this Lenten season to engage in Bible study or participate in a prayer group to simply listen to the hopes and fears of those who are a part of your parish. Are there ways that you might work together to bring the tangible love of God to your faith community? I think of the two women who started a widow’s group in our parish to help those who were grieving to experience love and support. It is in these corporate contemplative and quiet moments that we hear the voice of God speak through those who are near to us. |
| Listening to the community through service and generosity helps us to connect with our neighbors. We are called by Jesus to love God and to love our neighbor. And we love best by listening, and especially listening to those who are frightened, anxious, and suffering. How might we seek tangible ways to bring healing and hope to those who are vulnerable and in need? Many of our parishes offer food pantries, community meals, 12-step groups, and opportunities to learn the English language. How might you find a way to listen, to love, and to walk with those in need in our communities? |
| 2025 is the year of Listening in the Northwestern Ohio Synod. How might listening serve as a Lenten discipline for you and your community? Our team has prepared for you an entire catalog of 2025 Year of Listening Resources that we hope will accompany you in individual and parish exploration of this year of listening. |