If Today You Hear His Voice

By Theoloscience

Introduction: A Question of Trust
Let’s pause for a moment. Close your eyes if you feel comfortable and ask yourself this: Am I truly listening to God’s voice today?

Have you ever wondered if God is done with you? You know the answer is, “No, of course not.” God, who is infinite, is never done with His creation. But let’s go deeper. God doesn’t just offer existence — He offers a life of freedom, healing, and intimacy with Him. The question isn’t about whether God still has more to give. The question is whether we are ready to hear His voice and respond.

Let me tell you a story. I once met someone who had everything going right — a great career, a loving family, and a comfortable life. But they felt empty. They told me, “I realized I was too busy chasing things that didn’t matter and wasn’t listening to what God was saying.” That moment became the start of their transformation.

Today’s readings (Hebrews 3:7–14; Psalm 95:6–7c, 8–9, 10–11; Mark 1:40–45), remind us that the time to listen is now. The Holy Spirit warns us in Hebrews: “Harden not your hearts.” Why? Because ignoring God’s voice cuts us off from His blessings.

1. The Danger of a Hardened Heart
In the desert, the Israelites saw God’s works for forty years, yet they resisted Him. Their hearts were hardened by distrust and rebellion. The psalmist pleads with us: “If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts.”

Sin deceives us into thinking we don’t need God or that we have plenty of time to respond. But Scripture emphasizes urgency: “Today” is the moment of decision. To ignore God’s voice is to risk drifting into indifference and rebellion.

Ask yourself: What areas in your life is God calling you to surrender, but you’ve resisted? Is it a relationship that needs healing, a habit that needs breaking, or a deeper trust in His plan?

2. Spiritual “Leprosy”: Recognizing Our Need for Healing
In the Gospel, a leper approaches Jesus with humility, saying, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” His leprosy — a physical affliction — symbolizes the spiritual burdens that distance us from God.

What could “leprosy” mean in your life?

• Pride: Refusing to admit you need God’s help.
• Sinful attachments: Habits or relationships that pull you away from Him.
• Unresolved trauma: Wounds that cloud your ability to trust or hear Him.
• Fear and doubt: Believing that God’s mercy is for others, but not for you.

Jesus’ response is immediate and compassionate: “I do will it. Be made clean.” When we acknowledge our need and ask for His healing, He does not hesitate. In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, He offers the same cleansing power today.

3. Freedom Through Detachment
To hear God’s voice clearly, we must let go of what weighs us down. Jesus shows us that healing isn’t just about restoration — it’s about freedom. What are some attachments we might need to release?

• Materialism: Clinging to possessions instead of trusting God’s providence.
• Resentment: Refusing to forgive others, letting bitterness harden our hearts.
• Busyness: Making an idol of our schedules, drowning out His voice.
• Addictions: Seeking fulfillment in unhealthy patterns instead of His grace.

Jesus calls us to surrender these to Him. The leper is told to show himself to the priest, an act that publicly affirms his healing. Likewise, our transformation must be shared with our faith community — where we find accountability and support.

4. A Call for 2025: Renewal and Rest
This new year is a gift — a chance to start fresh. Hebrews reminds us: “Encourage yourselves daily while it is still ‘today.’” We are partners with Christ if we hold firm to the beginning of our faith. Let us not grow weary but support one another in our journey toward freedom.

Jesus does not merely calm storms or cure diseases — He renews and recreates us. The question is: will we let Him? Like the leper, will we step forward in faith, saying, “Lord, if You will it, You can make me clean”?

Conclusion: A Heart Ready to Listen
God is not done with you. He is infinite in love, life-giving, and renewing. But to receive His blessings, we must be willing to hear His voice and act.

Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart. Let go of what binds you, and let Christ recreate you. 2025 can be a year of freedom, renewal, and intimacy with God — but only if we say “yes” today.

Let’s pause now for a moment of silence. Reflect: What is your “leprosy”? What attachments is God calling you to release? Offer them to Him, and trust that He wills your healing.

Prayer:
Lord, we come before You today as we are, with our burdens and our leprosies. Help us to hear Your voice, to trust in Your mercy, and to surrender what holds us back. Renew us, recreate us, and make us free to walk in Your ways. Amen.