Will We Listen to the Voice of God?

About this sermon

Father Matt reminds us that God never stops speaking — but too often, we are the ones who stop listening. Not because God is unclear, but because we already have our own plans, expectations, and conclusions. At the root of this resistance is a deeper struggle: We do not want to submit to God’s authority or His will. In today’s reflection, Fr. Matt discusses the prophecy of Balaam in the Book of Numbers. Balaam, a pagan soothsayer, is compelled to proclaim the truth: “A star shall advance from Jacob, and a scepter shall rise from Israel.” Though Balaam himself was far from holy, God still spoke through him, showing that divine truth is not limited by the weakness of the messenger. That prophecy finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ — the true King, whose authority extends not just over Israel, but over all nations. The same King enters Jerusalem humbly, riding on a donkey, praised by children, and rejected by leaders who refuse to listen. Their question — “By what authority are you doing these things?” — is not born of curiosity, but of hardened hearts. They hear the words, but they are willfully deaf to their meaning. Father Matt challenges us to examine our own hearts. Are we listening for God’s voice, or only for what confirms what we already want? Like the Blessed Virgin Mary, true blessing comes when we say, “Let it be done to me according to your word.” God speaks in Scripture, in the poor, in His Church, in prayer, and in the Eucharist — but He will not force our ears open. God speaks. The question remains: will we listen?

Topics

• Prayer