I used to work with high school and middle school students on retreats. The leaders used a game to get across what Jesus describes in the Gospel today. Two students were invited up to the stage area in front of their peers. Then, they were placed on either end of the stage and blindfolded. (The stage in question was about 6 inches off the ground.) Two little squirt guns were placed on the floor somewhere between them. Their peers were divided into teams who would verbally help the blindfolded people to find the squirt guns. Whoever found a squirt gun first won (and the stage got all wet). Afterwards, the leader asked the blindfolded teens about their experience. “It was hard because everyone was shouting,” they would say. “I couldn’t understand what people were saying. I couldn’t pick out the right voice to listen to.” After all, half of the directions shouted into the room were intended for the other student.

The exercise pointed out that we get directions, advice, instructions, advertisements, etc. from many different voices on a daily basis. It can be difficult to pick out God’s voice amidst the clamor. Often we even add to the clamor for others! Jesus tells us today that it is important to listen to his voice, the good teacher, and to be attentive to the interior work we need to do with him. Then he can draw good fruit from us, and others can recognize us as good teachers, too.

In case you hadn’t noticed, Easter is late this year. It’s not until April 21! Because of this, we get more of Ordinary Time than we usually do before Lent. I usually hear these readings about Jesus’ victory over death and his teachings in the glow of recent celebrations of Easter Resurrection and Pentecost missioning. Today, I will be encouraged to hear Paul’s words as I prepare to enter into my Lenten practices and interior work: “Be firm, steadfast, always fully devoted to the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”