Monday September 23rd: Do you hear what I see?

St. Padre Pio

“Take care, then, how you hear.”

Luke 8:16-18

There is a curious conversational phenomenon amongst four-eyed folks. It’s not unusual for us to remark, “I can’t hear you very well. I don’t have on my glasses.” The internet suggests several reasons for this peculiarity – the fact that we use nonverbal cues to ‘fill in’ conversational gaps, or that people unconsciously lip read when someone is speaking which aids with understanding. Whatever the reason, it seems that our sight affects our hearing.

A familiar quote asserts: “What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.” Scripture today tells us that light is put on a lampstand, elevated, so that people may see it when they come in. In the spiritual life, we are called to be light, a visible reflection of Christ to those seeking Him. Sometimes though, the way we speak, and act dims our light, making it difficult for the Christ seekers to see. Constant self-reflection and conversion are required.
Ask yourself, can people hear me clearly? What is the quality of my light?