Listening First and Then Doing
In religious life, obedience is learned long before the vow is made. As novices, our novice master trained us to seek God’s will before making any request. Whenever we needed permission for something, he would remind us: “Did you pray about it?” Even when we developed the habit of praying before asking, he still asked the same question. His message was clear: we must first listen to God before acting.
This same truth is at the heart of today’s Gospel, where we witness Jesus’ encounter with the devil in the wilderness. After forty days of fasting, He faces three temptations: turning stones into bread, receiving worldly power in exchange for worshiping Satan, and testing God’s protection by throwing Himself from the Temple. Each time, Jesus resists, not by proving His power, but by listening to the Father first and then remaining obedient to His will in His actions.
This passage teaches us an essential truth about being children of God: true discipleship is not about what we do but about listening first and then acting in obedience to God. The devil tempts Jesus to act on His own, to take matters into His own hands, to prove Himself, and even uses scripture against Him. But Jesus refuses. He doesn’t define His identity by performing miracles or seeking recognition. Instead, He remains rooted in His relationship with the Father. His response to each temptation begins with God’s Word: “It is written…” He listens before acting.
As Catholics, we often believe that being a good Christian means simply doing good deeds. While good deeds are essential, they must flow from a heart that listens to God first. Without His love, our good works can easily become self-directed rather than God-directed.
This Lent, let’s ask ourselves: Do we take time to listen to God, or do we rush into doing without first seeking His will? Jesus shows us that true discipleship is about trusting the Father, listening to Him, and then acting in obedience to Him. May we follow His example as we resist the temptation to act on our own and instead choose to live as obedient children of God.
-Br. Miggo
