Listening to God’s Word
By Alice Camille
Chapter One
Read, Explore, Discuss
Genesis 1: Divine goodness in creation
Exodus 37: Moses sees God’s beauty
Isaiah 55: An invitation to God’s presence
Psalms 19 and 119: God in creation and in law
Proverbs 9: Wisdom issues her call
John 1: The Word becomes flesh
Philippians 2:1-8: Adopting the mind of Christ
Galatians 5:22-23: Good fruits of the Spirit in us
In the Spirit of Responsive Listening
Enter the conversation with God through prayer, contemplation, and Scripture reading.
Praise the God of creation by taking refreshment in natural surroundings. Exercise stewardship of the environment personally and politically.
Encounter the God of incarnation in relationships of love, generosity, and respect. Seek illumination, healing, and liberation for yourself, and for others both near and far.
Invite the God of the indwelling Spirit to guide you in all your ways.
Chapter Two
Read, Explore, Discuss
Genesis 2 and 3: Creation is subject to sin
Job 38-42: God speaks to Job
Ecclesiastes 1-6: The vanity of the world
Proverbs 8:22-36: Wisdom at the foundations of the world
Psalm 104: In praise for the goodness of creation
John 15-17: Choosing the world or Jesus
1 Corinthians 13: Attributes of the Divine
1 John 4: In the world but not of it
In the Spirit of Responsive Listening
Reflect on the broken elements of your family history. How do you heal, or reinforce, this legacy?
Consider the list of capital (deadly) sins: pride, envy, greed, anger, sloth, lust, and gluttony. Name the one that creates the most distance between you and God.
The world suffers from acts of injustice, violence, and disunity. What do you do for justice, peace, and the spirit of community?
Lost concrete steps you can take to avoid cynicism and despair about the present condition of the world.
Chapter Three
Read, Explore, Discuss
Genesis 12:1-9 and 15:1-5: Covenant with Abraham
Genesis 32:23-33: Jacob and the angel
Exodus 19 and 20: Covenant with Moses
1 Samuel 7: Covenant with David
1 Kings 6:11-13; 8:1-21; 9:1-9: Solomon and the Temple
Ezekiel 10:1-23: God’s Glory departs the Temple
Jeremiah 52:1-30: The destruction of Jerusalem
In the Spirit of Responsive Listening
Reflect on promises spoken into your life: those made to you and those you have made. Resolve to be a better promise keeper.
Evaluate how you tell your life story: Is it predominantly good news or bad? Who gets blamed and who exonerated? Is it a story of cynicism or hope?
Over whom do you exercise authority? Pray for the grace to use power wisely.
How portable is your God? Consider where and how you encounter the divine presence. Expand the territory.
Chapter Four
Read, Explore, Discuss
Exodus 12: Passover in Egypt
Deuteronomy 30: The blessing and the curse
Zechariah 3:9-20: The faithful remnant
Isaiah 42:1-9; 49:1-7; 50:4-11; 52:13-53:1: Servant songs
Malachi 3: The Day of the Lord
Ezekiel 37:1-14: Vision of the dry bones
Daniel 12: Secret revelation of the end of days
Matthew 25: 31-46: Justice and fidelity linked
1 Corinthians 1:18-2:16: Christ is the Wisdom of God
In the Spirit of Responsive Listening
Consider the resources you’ve used to navigate the crises you have faced so far.
Listen attentively for the modern prophets who speak a challenging word daily into the world.
Resolve to read the books of Wisdom teachers, both ancient and contemporary. Visit your local Catholic bookstore for ideas.
Pray for a fuller reception of the spiritual gifts: wisdom, understanding, knowledge, counsel, courage, reverence, and wonder and awe in the presence of the Lord.
Chapter Five
Read, Explore, Discuss
Ecclesiastes 2:1-8: For everything, a season
Wisdom 3:1-9: The just will not perish
2 Maccabees 7: Hope in the God of immorality
Mark 9:33-37; 10:13-16: Children and the Kingdom
Matthew 13, 18, 20-22, 25: Kingdom parables
Luke 12:54-56; 17:20-21; 21:5-36: Signs of the times
John 2:4; 4:21-26; 5:25-29; 7:6, 30; 12:20-36; 16:1-33: knowing the hour
Revelation 7:15-17; 10:5-7; 11:17-18; 12:10-12; 19:5-16: The victory is decided
Revelation 1:8, 17; 3:20, 21:1-8; 22:1-21: God’s time and ours
In the Spirit of Responsive Listening
Consider every day and urgent opportunity to marry the will of God in every decision.
Become like a child, open to each new person, event, and possibility.
Live for today. Act for eternity.
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