Considering the time we are living
through, with its moral and ethical catastrophe as well as a prophetic hope
rooted in an uncommon faith, the ground of justice, it is important to examine
three components of the Christian tradition. The first one is our relationship
with Jesus Christ of Nazareth the only begotten son of the Living God,
secondly, our relationships with family, friends, coworkers, church, and those
we may have a disagreement with and thirdly listening to the voice of God which
may manifest in unexpected places. The voice of God is in creation, its God’s
word, it is in the prophets and apostles, it is in God’s ministry. Of the three components, I want to focus on
is active listening. Active Listening is important because our relationship with
God and community, that is our communion, is made alive with active
listening.
Active listening is an invitation to encounter the humanity of the person first as a child of God, God’s sacred pleasure. It is about radically inclusive hospitality that opens hearts and minds to the spirit of God. It can be a most intimate and intoxicating affair if the Christian chooses to put their desires for power and privilege, assumptions, biases, preconceived notions, and socialization aside to know the person beyond societal and class structures that seek to dictate much of the human experience and condition. An example of this happens in John 4:1-42. The biblical text depicts Jesus, traveling through Samaria on his way to Galilee, sitting down at the well in Sychar, and talking to an unnamed Samaritan woman at the well. After Jesus talked to the woman at the well, she appeared to have been astounded at how Jesus knew such truths about her. As she told the other Samaritans, “He told me everything I ever did” (v. 39). Intrigued, they approached Jesus, and He stayed in their town for two days talking with them. Here is a woman and her community that felt heard. This would seem to be the underlying question of our time, “Do you feel heard?”
This is the model of listening I seek to follow as a Christian. Active listening requires time, patience, humbleness, a desire for healing, and a heart of generosity. Most of all, the Christian must want to listen. “Do you want to actively listen?” Many of the issues and concerns of church and society could be addressed if active listening, to encounter humanity were practiced. I suppose what I am arguing for is the reception of humanity as a primary call to listen and the issues and concerns to be secondary. The first question of church and society should be, “Do You See Me?” “Do I have your attention?” I am mindful of the words of Simone Weil, “Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity” which engages these questions. What I glean from the text is both Jesus and the woman are courageous in their attention to each other. This is not a one-sided conversation but an intimate sharing that breaks strict cumbersome boundaries that maintain the marginalization and oppression of the unnamed Samaritan woman and her community. The conversation at the well violates the boundaries which represent unjust cultural assumptions, and a politics, rooted in patriarchy, that denies a full and thriving Samaritan humanity.
It would appear, that if we are to live fully in the Christian faith, that is to humbly seek to walk in the footsteps of Jesus of Nazareth, active listening more so than speaking would be a primary calling of the Christian. James 1:19 says, “Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” Saint Francis of Assisi said, “Preach the Gospel Always, and if necessary, use Words.” Amidst a fast-paced society where trauma is a norm, where desires for instant gratification, the rise of Christian Nationalism, culture wars, authoritarianism, extreme individualism, and the war against a woman’s bodily autonomy and the LGBTQIA+ community are legislative imperatives, the words of James and St. Francis would be wise council. The biblical text for today calls us to develop an appreciation once again for active listening amidst a society where there is great fear of active listening, particularly active listening practiced by the Woman at the Well and Jesus. Failure to actively listen becomes an opportunity for weeds to flourish and thrive, choking out the grace and mercy provided through the cosmic sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross.
In a time when theological malpractice is rampant, when injustice and cruelty, for many Christians, have become an article of faith, the confessing Christian is called to be mindful of what and who they are listening to. The art of listening keeps the Christian attuned to the Holy Spirit. I long for a time when listening is embraced and appreciated more so than speaking. This may be a long wait. I imagine a time when everybody takes on the responsibility to listen, with intention, to their family members, neighbors, coworkers, friends, and most importantly, those they might have a disagreement with. To be inclusive in their listening is a hallmark of the human experience. A pandemic, an insurrection, rising suicide rates, a politics unhinged more than usual, and mass shootings, are reminders of the importance of listening to hear the voice of the divine amidst those lost in fear, loathing, depression, pain, and hatred. If the Church is going to successfully navigate a process of spiritual and religious renewal, listening must be an essential element.
Active listening is an invitation to encounter the humanity of the person first as a child of God, God’s sacred pleasure. It is about radically inclusive hospitality that opens hearts and minds to the spirit of God. It can be a most intimate and intoxicating affair if the Christian chooses to put their desires for power and privilege, assumptions, biases, preconceived notions, and socialization aside to know the person beyond societal and class structures that seek to dictate much of the human experience and condition. An example of this happens in John 4:1-42. The biblical text depicts Jesus, traveling through Samaria on his way to Galilee, sitting down at the well in Sychar, and talking to an unnamed Samaritan woman at the well. After Jesus talked to the woman at the well, she appeared to have been astounded at how Jesus knew such truths about her. As she told the other Samaritans, “He told me everything I ever did” (v. 39). Intrigued, they approached Jesus, and He stayed in their town for two days talking with them. Here is a woman and her community that felt heard. This would seem to be the underlying question of our time, “Do you feel heard?”
This is the model of listening I seek to follow as a Christian. Active listening requires time, patience, humbleness, a desire for healing, and a heart of generosity. Most of all, the Christian must want to listen. “Do you want to actively listen?” Many of the issues and concerns of church and society could be addressed if active listening, to encounter humanity were practiced. I suppose what I am arguing for is the reception of humanity as a primary call to listen and the issues and concerns to be secondary. The first question of church and society should be, “Do You See Me?” “Do I have your attention?” I am mindful of the words of Simone Weil, “Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity” which engages these questions. What I glean from the text is both Jesus and the woman are courageous in their attention to each other. This is not a one-sided conversation but an intimate sharing that breaks strict cumbersome boundaries that maintain the marginalization and oppression of the unnamed Samaritan woman and her community. The conversation at the well violates the boundaries which represent unjust cultural assumptions, and a politics, rooted in patriarchy, that denies a full and thriving Samaritan humanity.
It would appear, that if we are to live fully in the Christian faith, that is to humbly seek to walk in the footsteps of Jesus of Nazareth, active listening more so than speaking would be a primary calling of the Christian. James 1:19 says, “Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” Saint Francis of Assisi said, “Preach the Gospel Always, and if necessary, use Words.” Amidst a fast-paced society where trauma is a norm, where desires for instant gratification, the rise of Christian Nationalism, culture wars, authoritarianism, extreme individualism, and the war against a woman’s bodily autonomy and the LGBTQIA+ community are legislative imperatives, the words of James and St. Francis would be wise council. The biblical text for today calls us to develop an appreciation once again for active listening amidst a society where there is great fear of active listening, particularly active listening practiced by the Woman at the Well and Jesus. Failure to actively listen becomes an opportunity for weeds to flourish and thrive, choking out the grace and mercy provided through the cosmic sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross.
In a time when theological malpractice is rampant, when injustice and cruelty, for many Christians, have become an article of faith, the confessing Christian is called to be mindful of what and who they are listening to. The art of listening keeps the Christian attuned to the Holy Spirit. I long for a time when listening is embraced and appreciated more so than speaking. This may be a long wait. I imagine a time when everybody takes on the responsibility to listen, with intention, to their family members, neighbors, coworkers, friends, and most importantly, those they might have a disagreement with. To be inclusive in their listening is a hallmark of the human experience. A pandemic, an insurrection, rising suicide rates, a politics unhinged more than usual, and mass shootings, are reminders of the importance of listening to hear the voice of the divine amidst those lost in fear, loathing, depression, pain, and hatred. If the Church is going to successfully navigate a process of spiritual and religious renewal, listening must be an essential element.
No comments:
Post a Comment