What is a murmurer? A man saw the sign “city proper,” and he murmured: “So, is there a city improper?” He saw the sign “normal school” and he murmured: “So, is there an abnormal school?” A murmurer is someone who has a built-in negative comment about everything and everyone. Are you a murmurer?
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In today’s Gospel (John 6:41-51), the Jews murmured about Jesus because He said: “I am the bread of life that came down from heaven.” As soon as He said that, there was quite a disapproval among His listeners, questioning His person: “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph?” As it were, Jesus was telling about the “big picture,” and they missed it because they did not listen and open their minds and hearts.
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Murmurers, while they are not murderers in the strict sense of the word, “kill” the character, the thoughts, and the words of other people. Many of us may not be murderers but, we who play the game of murmuring, back-biting, and judging, often end up shooting down the vision, hopes, and dreams of other people.
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“Stop murmuring among yourselves!” Murmuring by oneself is bad enough, but imagine a group that murmurs together! So, are you a part of a murmuring group that constantly criticizes everyone and everything under the sun? Let us get rid of unproductive, useless ranting, complaining, and murmuring. Stay away, stay free, leave any group that indulges and thrives on negativities.
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The ”Bread of Life” message of the Lord is deep and precious, but it was not heard by the people because of their negative mindset. Why do we judge, criticize, complain, or think ill and talk ill of other people and their ideas? Maybe, it is simply because we do not like them, we doubt them, they disturb our comfort zones, or they threaten and bring out our insecurities.
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Let us learn to listen, really listen to God and each other. How do we do that? Let’s “T.O.R.C.H.” it!
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TAKE TIME TO LISTEN. Listening requires time. Let us make time to listen to God speaking to us. “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). Let us also take time to listen to people, for every person is worth stopping for.
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OPENNESS. Let us make the effort to really hear out and understand what God wants to tell us, and what others are trying to communicate to us. Openness means to be open-minded and to be open-hearted. Openness means we accept that we need to reach out to and be in touch with God, and with others because they complete us.
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RESPECT. To listen with respect means we listen truly, not listen roughly or rudely, nor make our rebuttals, judgments, and rationalizations right away. Respect means that even if we do not agree, we can still respectfully agree to disagree.
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CARE. We listen carefully, not hurriedly, not superficially! And, we listen with care, concern, understanding, and compassion. Yes, true listening is saying to the other person: “I am all ears, I am all mind, and I am all heart to you and for you.”
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HUMILITY. True listening happens when we have humility toward the other. It is humility that helps us to take time to listen; to be given; to be respectful; and to listen carefully and with care. Humility makes us open to the possibility that the other person could be right, too, because none of us has a monopoly on truth and righteousness.
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Aug. 15 is the Feast of the Assumption of Mother Mary to Heaven. May we follow her who said “Yes” to the Lord without complaining, without questioning, and without murmuring.
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Think about this:
Life is more peaceful if we focus on God’s will, God’s way, and God’s time and not on our will, our way, and our time.
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A moment with the Lord.Lord, help us to truly listen to You and to one another. Amen.
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