Carve out time for God’s whispers

By Fr. Jack Treloar, SJ | For The Compass | August 9, 2023

The story of Elijah’s experiences in the cave as it occurs in this week’s first reading presents two very important lessons for us who live in the 21st century. We discover how God works. We come to understand the importance of learning to listen.

When Elijah enters the cave, he expects God to manifest tremendous power because Elijah himself has been a prophetic messenger of this power to the wayward Israelites. He has been the hammer of God calling the people back to true worship of the one God.

So, he enters the cave with a certain preset belief. There was a strong heavy wind, but God was not present in the wind. An earthquake occurred but God was not in the earthquake. Then there was a fire and Elijah still did not experience God. Finally, there was a tiny whispering sound; only then did Elijah discern the presence of the Lord.

The importance of this experience for Elijah comes with his realization that God can cause wind, earthquake and fire as manifestations of power, but his real power becomes apparent only when he manifests himself in the tiniest of occurrences — a small whisper.

Our own time is an age of noise and commotion. We are surrounded by our own versions of wind, earthquake and fire. We turn on the TV first thing in the morning and only silence it just before we go to bed. If we live near an interstate, our lives are surrounded by the constant traffic noise of cars, emergency vehicles and semi-trucks. Interiorly, we experience agitation from the political situation of the world around us.

There is not much we can do to avoid the noise that surrounds us all day long and into the night. If we allow that noise to occupy us totally, we will never hear the tiny whispering voice of God. We should learn to carve out times and places that allow us truly to pay attention to God’s whispers. In other words, we begin to guard the silent times of our days and lives as precious gifts from God.

This brings us to the second lesson embedded in the reading. We discover that Elijah has to learn to listen in a new way.

Again, our culture does not help us because we are surrounded by a politics of loud voiced ideologies. These ideologies take the stance that I am right and anyone who disagrees with me is wrong. Such a stance comes from the failure to really listen to the other person and to respond in such a way that the person can understand our point of view. We create our own mighty winds, earthquakes and fires. This means that God’s whispering voice will never be heard. If we do not listen, we will only have the noise of discord and destruction.

Even though Elijah’s experiences happened centuries and centuries ago, there is much wisdom present in the text for our own time. God works for us in the silent spots of our lives. If we listen, we will hear the voice of God as Elijah heard it.

Fr. Treloar, an assistant director at Jesuit Retreat House in Oshkosh, has served as a professor, lecturer, author and academic administrator.

Community is our good ground

By Fr. Jack Treloar, SJ | For The Compass | July 12, 2023

The farming community in Wisconsin is painfully aware that our state is experiencing a drought this summer. Farmers know how necessary rain and snow are to a successful crop at the end of the summer.

The reading from Isaiah and the responsorial psalm point out for us that rain makes the earth fruitful. Just as rain and snow water the earth to set up the conditions whereby seed can grow and flourish, so the word of God goes forth to set up conditions of spiritual growth.

Jesus’ “Parable of the Sower” echoes these Old Testament texts.

He points out that the farmer must first sow the seed. Many seeds fall to the ground. Some fall on the path, some are eaten by birds, some on rocky ground, and are unable to grow. Some seed, however, falls on good soil and produces an abundant crop of a hundred-, sixty- or thirty-fold. Jesus concludes with these words, “Whoever has ears ought to hear.” These final words tell us that Jesus is not just talking about agriculture.

We should consider the seeds that fall on good ground and, consequently, produce the abundant harvest. Initially, they are like all other seeds — single, solitary, with potential for growth, maturity and finally an abundant harvest. The good ground and needed moisture separates these seeds from all others that do not produce fruit.

Jesus is not telling us how to be good farmers. He wants us to understand that the seeds in the parable indicate the spiritual reality spoken of in the reading from Isaiah.

The prophet Isaiah develops a commonplace image to express a spiritual reality. The seed in good ground functions merely as a symbol standing in place of the great mystery of the word of God. Natural seed falls to the ground and eventually gives more seed to the one who sows and bread to the one who eats.

Just “so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth. My word shall not return to me void, but shall do my will achieving the end for which I sent it.” Those who hear the word of God and keep it will bear much fruit.

As ones who hear the word of God, we need good ground to mature, grow and bear that fruit. We do not often think of the fact that community is our good ground helping us bear fruit leading to our final destiny. We need to be surrounded by good and holy people in order to develop into good and holy people.

Parents teach us to be kind, to obey, to love each other and to pray. As we mature and grow in these good habits, we pass them on to others. This process allows the seed of God’s word to expand and eventually achieve its purpose. Salvation for all is the harvest of a hundred-, sixty- and thirty-fold.

Fr. Treloar, an assistant director at Jesuit Retreat House in Oshkosh, has served as a professor, lecturer, author and academic administrator.

Follow the hidden disciples’ example

Fr. Jack Treloar, SJ | For The Compass | June 14, 2023

Sometimes when either the genealogy of Jesus or the listing of the apostles’ names occurs as part of the Gospel reading, my eyes glaze over at the narration of all those names.

The Gospel this week could be one of those times, for we have Matthew’s version of the list of the apostles. Some names are familiar, such as Peter, James and John; they play a major role in the Gospels. Others show up usually with only a line or two, such as Thomas, Andrew and Philip. There are three apostles on this list that all we know are their names — Bartholomew; James, the son of Alpheus; and Simon from Cana.

Although we know nothing about these apostles, we can assume a few things concerning their lives. Each of them responded to Jesus’ basic call, “Follow me.” They were undoubtedly present any time the Scriptures mention “the twelve.” They would have been present at the Pentecost event. After that, they must have spread out on missionary journeys throughout the then known world to proclaim that Jesus is the Christ.

Just because we know nothing explicit about them, we cannot conclude that they are unimportant. As a matter of fact, they can become an example for us. They are the beginning of what I would call “hidden discipleship.” A hidden disciple is anyone called by Christ who then lives out the Gospel message by the manner of their lives. Most of us are hidden disciples since we live the call of Christ by simply doing what the Gospel requires.

There may be a person in our lives who we can identify as a hidden disciple. Perhaps this disciple is a widowed grandmother who teaches the children in the family their prayers, how to say the rosary, faithfully attends Eucharist and, at all times, cares for the heritage of the family. This woman would never have thought of herself as a disciple, but she in fact is, by her faith and love of her extended family.

The discipleship most of us live is accomplished without fanfare or fame. It consists of fidelity to the tasks we have been given. Once the tasks are complete in the eyes of the Lord, the hidden disciple is quite willing to simply disappear.

St. Joseph is an excellent example of hidden discipleship. He was given the task of caring for Mary and her child. He was always there for their needs. He did not require adulation for his dedication because doing the will of God was enough for him.

In the days ahead, be attentive to all the hidden disciples in your life. Who draws you closer to God by the manner of their life? You will inevitably find many such disciples surrounding you. There will be no search for celebrity, no false knowledge, no explicit piousness. There will be knowledge of the Lord — a knowledge that is freely shared with everyone.