Being Attentive

The familiar psalm 42 speaks of our longing for God:  "As the hind longs for the running waters,/ so my soul longs for you, O God./ Athirst is my soul for God, the living God." (Ps 42 1).  With confidence we can reverse this longing and use these words to describe God's longing for us:  As the hind longs for the running waters, so do I, your God, long for YOU!  God manifests his longing for us by his words spoken in the beauty of nature, our Fall-colored and falling leaves, the last roses of summer, the beauty of friendships that never die, the answering of our prayers, the example of parents, teachers, simple people whose loving response to God has raised them to sainthood, the Word of God itself, the sacraments which make God's presence and action visible.  We simply need to hone our senses to be attentive to these countless methods God is using to say, "I love you, I am with you each step of your way, and assure you that MY WAY is a thousand times better for you than what you think it best for yourself.  Be attentive, listen, I will show you that best way. No one is too insignificant for me to ignore.
Today, we celebrate the memorial of St. Martin de Porres, the illegitimate son of a Spanish Knight and black woman, born in Lima, Peru in 1679. His love of all peoples, or animals and his use of his medical skills on all, as the "slave of the slaves" who who came to the shores of Peru from Africa, have won him the titles of Patron of the Poor and Patron of Social Justice.  Did he ever dream of such honors as he went about treating wounds and illnesses?  No, but he was certainly attentive to the voice of God calling him to such a ministry.  He was the vessel of God's love for these thousands who never would have otherwise experienced God.  May we be attentive today God's voice, and become more aware of how he wishes to be part of our lives.
Bro. Rene