“But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”

In the ✠ Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Historically, when Dominicans are taught to preach, we are generally told not to view Holy Scripture as historical documents that necessitate eloquent interpretation. Likewise, we are not supposed to read the Holy Gospels with the intention of discovering a hidden meaning or a novel theological epiphany that hasn’t already been debated by biblical scholars and theolo-gicians throughout the ages. While at first glance this might appear seemingly contrary to the very nature of preaching, it calls us to be attentive to the text in a rather mystically intimate way.

When we prepare to preach at the pulpit, our heart is set on discerning how the living Word is speaking to us in the context of today. The Spirit kindles our heart, and our heart informs our mind to articulate aspects of the divine essence in human words. This is the same Spirit that bestowed the gift of speaking the language of the people on the day of Pentecost. The Dominican is first called to contemplate, and then consequently, has a responsibility to share the fruits of our contemplation for the salvation of souls.

The United Church of Christ in particular does an excellent job of nurturing this truth that “God is still speaking”. Furthermore, not only do we interact with the living Word, we believe every Christian has an apostolic call to bear witness to how God authors the Gospel in our everyday life as an extension of our shared priesthood gifted to us at baptism.

Aside from preaching, we have already iterated that a prerequisite to faithful speech is to start by actively listening with open ears, a curious mind, and a softened heart. On the Feast of Thomas the Apostle, you might even recall that we previously discussed how listening to God requires a risky leap of faith that flies in the face of societal norms. It has become normative to subject Christ unto our own desires as opposed to submitting ourselves fully unto Christ’s subjection. “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

We also discussed how taking this leap of faith is inherently sacrificial. By rejecting the world and submitting ourselves to the will of God, we die to the world and increase in God’s abounding merciful grace.

Each day we discern God’s will and make a considerable attempt to choose Him over the world,  “we offer and present ourselves, our souls and bodies, to be a reasonable, holy, and living sacrifice.” That we might be filled with His grace and heavenly benediction, and made one body with Him, that He may dwell in us, and we in Him. In fact, we affirm this every Sunday in the ultimate Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

Indeed, seeing and hearing are choices we make using our freewill. In doing so, we look intently towards the heavens, and we lift up our hearts to listen to the Word that comes from the mouth of God. My beloved siblings in Christ, God is speaking to you every single day. Are you listening?

Prayer Attributed to St. Dominic

May God the Father, who made us, bless us.

May God the Son, who redeemed us, send healing into our midst.

May God the Holy Spirit, who gives us life, move within us.

May God give us eyes to see to God, ears to hear God, and hands to bring God’s work into the world.

May we walk with God and preach the word of God to all. May the angel of peace watch over us and lead us at last by God’s grace to the eternal Kingdom.