23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Written by Jasmyn Joubert
Throughout my years of teaching Theology and being in youth ministry I’ve heard many ask “how do I hear the voice of God?” I spent a lot of time answering this-pointing others in the direction of Scripture, Adoration, silent presence with the Lord. We worry and worry about trying to hear God, but I don’t think a lot of us ask, “what will I do if I hear God?”
My 4 year old daughter is heavily into discerning her future (it is clear who her parents are). She went through a phase of being very concerned about if she was being called to motherhood or religious life (yes-she is FOUR). We encouraged her to talk to Jesus about it so she would ask, “Jesus, are you okay with me being a mommy?”, close her eyes, put her hand on her heart and loudly say “HE SAID YES!” Other times, she will reply “I think that Jesus is telling me I actually need to be a nun”, which messes with her future plans of being a mommy/dolphin trainer who brings her kids to work with her. We have had many conversations with her about how Jesus wants her to live a full and happy life and that whatever she is being called to is going to be incredible and not sad. So she keeps asking, and we keep encouraging her that Jesus will lead her to joy.
The psalm states, “He is our God, and we are the people He shepherds, the flock He guides”. The Lord desires to lead us. To lead us through the incredible (and not sad) life He is calling us to. When we hear Him, will we remain open? Are we willing to wake up each morning and ask, “Lord, who do you want me to be?” And when we hear a response will we harden our hearts or will we act?
Jasmyn Joubert is a school counselor by trade and a mom of two daughters by vocation. She has a passion for public speaking, specifically on the intersection of faith and mental health. Most recently, Jasmyn was named President of Alive in You Outreach, a non-profit that focuses on creating servant hearts among the teens in our Church. Follow Jasmyn on Instagram.
Pray with today’s psalm.