Listen

Pastor Edwin Zarate

Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt. (Matthew 2:13-14)

Joseph and Mary are very good at listening. When the cruel king wanted to kill the baby Jesus, Joseph listen and followed what the messenger of the Lord told him to do. He took the child and his mother to Egypt to escape where they were safe. In Egypt, Joseph listened to the messenger of the Lord again. They returned back to Israel because the king who wanted to kill the child was already dead. When another king wanted to harm the child, Joseph listened to the messenger of God again and they were able to escape another danger.

The journey of Joseph, Mary, and the baby Jesus was challenging. There were many obstacles they needed to overcome. However, because of Joseph’s ability to listen to the message from God, he was able to manage and succeed in their journey. Even the three wise men who visited baby Jesus listened to the message of God, and they succeed in their journey.

As we set our journey this new year, let us be a listening people. Let us discern what God wants us to be and be ready to follow. We will be victorious in our journey if we know how to listen to God and his words.

Let us listen. Let us be present. Let us be attentive.

Let the voice of God penetrate our minds, our thoughts, our hearts and our entire being as we start our journey this new year.