7th Sunday in Ordinary Time
1 Sam 26:2,7-9,12-13,22-23
1 Cor 15:45-49
Lk 6:27-38
“I say this to you who are listening…”
Growing up as a baby boomer in America during the 1960s & 70s, my generation was taught to respect and adhere to certain voices. It was easy to know which voices were for my good, to keep me safe and on ‘the right track’ when I was young and had my parents to guide me. At every stage in life, we ‘knew’ the voices speaking to us.
As a baby/toddler, we tend to listen to the voices of our mother and father.
As a young child, we tend to listen to the voices of our parents, and most all other adults.
As a teenager, we tend to listen to the voices of our parents, adults, friends and peers, and we began to listen to our own voice.
As an adult (one who pays all their own bills), we tend to listen to the voice of our boss, so that we can continue to pay our own bills and not live under the supervision/rules of parents.
As I think of the seasons in my life, I readily remember the voices that influenced me – many good, and some I am ashamed of – those were the voices that encouraged me to ‘go for instant pleasure, for putting myself first and turning a blind eye to others’.
A very loud voice of my teenage years was sometimes even preached at Sunday Mass, ‘I’m okay, you’re okay’. Seemed harmless, it’s about toleration and acceptance – and that’s a good thing, right? On the surface, it seems good. Very good. But walk that out and it screams, ‘you’re okay, so you don’t need a Saviour’. And how about ‘My body, my choice”. And a prevalent one lately, “it if doesn’t bring you joy, don’t do it.” Voices that are in direct conflict with the voice of God.
And today, the voices are exponentially more numerous. Constant voices speaking, whispering and yelling at us from our handheld devices on a weekly basis are nearly uncountable. From the voices singing/rapping on a loop in our ears, to the ranting and raving on podcasts, social media, radio, TV, etc. Even as an adult with a fully formed brain and decades of life experience, it’s sometimes confusing to know which voices are speaking truth to support and protect me, and which voices belong to the serpent that spoke to Eve and Adam. And these voices are determining our actions.
How difficult it must be for our young to discern – especially those who have never heard of the truth of the trustworthy voice of God. It’s no wonder that so many in the world today listen to their own voice, one that has been influenced/damaged/compromised/silenced, by sin. We have an epidemic in the young (and especially women) in America — hopelessness and anxiety like never before. Hopelessness, fear, anxiety, panic are feelings – formed by the voices one listens to that swim around the mind and infiltrate the heart.
I’m sure you’ve heard:
Watch your thoughts, they become your words.
Watch your words, they become your actions.
Watch your actions, they become your habits.
Watch your habits, they become your character.
Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.
We all know people who say one thing, and do another; who give lip service, but not actual service. I think social media is just that -– it is so easy to feel good about oneself because of a PRO or ANTI Facebook or Instagram or TikTok post — but, if no action of prayer and work is there working to serve what we say we believe, do we actually believe it?
Does one get credit for meaning to feed the poor, or meaning to clothe the naked, or meaning to pray and do good to their enemies? Sure, we may have friends who give us a like or a heart on our post, even a share; but does that help when it comes to eternity?
Our beliefs, the daily choices we make that turn into the way we live our life, how we handle business, friendships and all relationships is 100% based on the voice(s) we listen to. The beliefs of those we listen to will determine who we believe, where and how we spend our time, our money and, ultimately, eternity. So, look at your calendar and your credit card history -– does it match up with the Voice that you say, and believe, is what guides your every decision?
Eve listened to the voice of the serpent. Adam listened to the voice of Eve.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Gina Ulicny)
Prayer: Father God, give me the grace to quickly deafen any voice that isn’t You, any voice that leads me off the path of Your perfect will for my life.
Thanksgiving: Thank you for ears that hear your voice, for a heart that feels Your voice and for family and friends who listen for You voice only. May their conviction strengthen mine, and may my desire to listen only to You support them.
OXYGEN 
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