“If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts”

Jesus used and still uses today many kinds of messengers to inform, guide and encourage us. The Psalmist asks “From your presence where can I flee?” And indeed the Lord uses many ways to reach out to us in nature and in the people brought into our lives. These messages and messengers are all around us if we only calm the clutter of our minds and listen.

Today’s Gospel reading from Luke might be considered one of the more direct, even harsh sayings from Jesus. In his expression of disappointment to those do not listen to the ones Jesus has sent in his name he also is  posing retribution—and especially singles out the privileged whose hearts are “hardened” to his Word.

Throughout the ages we have been challenged by the trauma and chaos of the day and we have been encouraged by God’s real presence in the world, despite the trauma and chaos. Jesus is admonishing us to listen to his messengers. We should respond to this challenge by discerning who is around us with the authentic Word of God and look for who is setting boundaries between good and evil. Let us use today’s lesson to open our hearts to His message and renew our moral compass in the midst of the trauma and chaos of 2018.