SUNDAY, TWENTY SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Am 6: 1, 4-7 Ps 146: 7-10 1 Tm 6: 11-16 Lk 16: 19-31
GOD’S VOICE, DAY BY DAY
“God walks among the pots and pans.”—St. Teresa of Avila God is always speaking—not just in moments of crisis or joy, but in the ordinary situations of human life. The question is: are we listening? The Gospel account of the rich man and Lazarus is a powerful reminder that it is possible to miss the sight of God even when He is right at our gate. Not because we are evil or unwilling, but because we are distracted, preoccupied, or numbed by routine. Yet the invitation remains open: to return to a way of living that listens to the promptings of the Divine! Here are four steps to help us hear God’s voice more clearly in the midst of daily life.
(1) How can we make space for stillness? In a world full of noise and urgency, stillness can feel unproductive—but it is still essential. God rarely speaks over our distractions. He waits for the quiet. Stillness allows our inner world to settle so that we recognize the subtle ways in which He speaks. You do not need an hour of silence. Start with a few minutes in the morning or during a break in your day. Just sit. Breathe. Invite God into that space. These small moments of quiet can soften the heart and tune us in to grace. It is in stillness—not stress—that we begin to hear the voice of God: gently nudging, reminding, and guiding.
(2) Paying attention to who is at our gate: The rich man’s downfall was not hatred. It was indifference. He lived beside someone in need and did nothing. He likely walked past Lazarus often—but never really saw him. We all have people at our gates—sometimes physically, sometimes emotionally. A colleague who is struggling, a family member who is withdrawn, a friend we have been meaning to check in on. Their needs may not be dramatic, but they are real. God often speaks through these people—not with words, but with presence. When we notice someone, really notice them, we are beginning to hear the voice of God calling us to love. Ask yourself: Who have I stopped seeing?
(3) Respond with love, even when its inconvenient: Once we see, we are invited to act. Love, at its core, is a response. But its rarely convenient. To love in daily life means to be interrupted. To offer time when we are busy. To listen when we would rather move on. To forgive, to stay, to show up—especially when it costs us something. These acts may seem small, but these are the point of departure for transformation. Each one is a doorway to grace. In choosing to love here and now, we allow God’s voice to be enfleshed through our actions. Not every situation can be fixed. But every moment is a chance to respond with kindness, humility, and courage.
(4) Letting ourselves be seen too: Sometimes, we are not the ones offering help. Sometimes, we are the ones in need—tired, grieving, anxious, or unsure. Hearing God’s voice also means allowing ourselves to receive. It means not pretending we’re fine when we are not. It means letting others carry us when we cannot walk alone. This is not weakness—it is part of being human. And it opens us up to the grace of community, where God often speaks through the love of others. Letting yourself be seen is a sacred act. It keeps us grounded, honest, and connected to the truth that God’s voice speaks in both giving and receiving. The voice of God is not always loud or unmistakable. Often, it is quiet and insistent—a tug on the heart, a moment of compassion, a call to slow down or draw near.
It is easy to wait for a big sign. But in the end, we are already being spoken to—through people, interruptions, Scripture, beauty, and need. God does not shout; He calls. And He waits for us to respond, not with perfection, but with presence. To obey God is to carry that divine life into the world—not with grand gestures, but with small, faithful steps. This is exactly the exhortation St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross would give us: “The deeper one is drawn into God, the more one must go out of oneself; that is, one must go to the world in order to carry the divine life into it.” The gate is still open. The voice still calls. Let us begin.
Response: Come, Lord, and save us.
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