Learning to be Quick to Listen

In a world full of noise, the Christian is first called not to speak, but to cultivate peace —deep, interior peace that comes from Christ. When the heart is anchored in Him, that peace becomes our first and most powerful witness. We may desire others to listen to what we have to say about Jesus and His Church—and that desire is good—but we cannot expect to be heard if we have not first learned to listen . As our Lord teaches in the Gospel of Luke, “Do to others as you would have them do to you” (Luke 6:31). Listening, then, is not a strategy or a stepping stone to something “more important.” It is itself an act of discipleship. It is obedience to Christ, and even more, it is imitation of Him. Consider how Jesus Himself engaged others. Though He is the Creator, He entered into real conversations with ordinary people. He did not simply deliver monologues from on high; He listened, responded, and met people where they were. To follow Him means to do the same. Even in brief or passing enco...

Pope Francis has lamented that children are being taught at school that gender can be a choice, adding that his predecessor, Benedict XVI has labeled current times "the epoch of sin against God the Creator." Francis weighed in with his view on gender and what he said was that of the emeritus pontiff while meeting privately last week with bishops from Poland during his pilgrimage there. The Vatican released a transcript Tuesday of those closed-door remarks. The pope said he wanted to conclude his remarks by reflecting on this: "We are living a moment of annihilation of man as image of God." Francis said: "Today, in schools they are teaching this to children -- to children! -- that everyone can choose their gender." Without specifying, he blamed this on textbooks supplied by "persons and institutions who donate money." The pope blamed what he called "ideological colonizing" backed by "very influential countries" which he did...