Gospel Reflection: Mt 18:15-20

Gospel: Mt 18:15-20
Event: 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (September 4, 2011)

Pericope:
"If he listens to you, you have gained your brother"

Reflection:

In our noise and busy society today, active listening is neglected and barely achieved. Some may be half- listening, some listens whenever they just want to, some listens but don't try understand and valuing things they've just heard and some people don't even listen at all.

When I was younger, I've always thought that saying something/taking is much more important than listening, when it comes to communication. That, in order for you to be active in group talks and such, you have to talk a lot. I thought that JUST listening won't make you active and too much involved with group discussions. But then, I was wrong, and the opposite is how things go. When you listen, you understand you give turns to other people to give their opinion and you give time for yourself, to think what you have to say, before you speak up. Because, if you don't listen well and all you do is talk, talk and talk, you won't understand what really the other people are saying, you might appear arrogant and bossy, you might give a feedback that isn't related to what you r friends are talking about and that feedback may offend someone, with that you might get a negative feedback and might end up with misunderstanding, or worse.

That's the problem with our society. We've learned to be loud and have mouths that talk too fast, but we lost the ability of hearing even if we have two completely healthy functioning ears. We have time to do our office works but barely have time to listen to what our friends are saying. We hear concerts every month, but don't even bother to hear mass. We've learned how to speak fluently and professionally but sometimes have trouble getting the point of other people.

Because when we are professional, we think highly of ourselves that every word that comes from our mouth is regarded as correct, that's why we tend to talk first than other, or THINK BEFORE WE SPEAK. Arrogance, what we demonstrate and that's exactly how our society works. Not all, not the church.

Before, I wondered why covenants are so quiet and some other religious place. A quiet place is a good place to focus and concentrate yourself to something, that's why it's noiseless. In that way, you can hear what God is saying.