By opening our hearts we can hear the words of Jesus telling us how much God loves us, the Rev. Ivan Olmo, pastor of Annunciation Catholic Church in Altamonte Springs, said.

The Christmas season may be months away, but stores already are creating a winter wonderland on their shelves with decorations, toys and trees, Olmo said in the Sept. 23 church bulletin.

“We reconnect and catch up with those who live far away and we are ever so mindful of those less fortunate than ourselves," he said in the bulletin. "We are filled with the hope and peace the season brings and welcome it into our hearts and into our homes."

One of the songs that families may sing is “Do you Hear What I Hear?” Olmo thinks about what each of us hear.

“Are we both hearing what Moses and the prophets heard?" Olmo asked. "Are we hearing what the Disciples heard? Are we hearing what all the angels and saints heard? Are we hearing the sweet voice of God gently calling each one of us by name? Calling each one of us to conversion. Inviting each one of us to change our minds and open our hearts.”

People hear many sounds, some pleasing and beautiful like nature or children playing. But at times sounds turn into so much noise, which drowns out God’s voice.

“God desires to speak to us, to encourage us, to share with us," Olmo said. "That is music to our ears."

Those unpleasant sounds that become noise harm our ability to listen. We need to put in a bit more work and even more skill to listen. We must be attentive to the sound and open to what words are being said. We must make ourselves available to the message, and respect the person who is speaking.

“Listening requires us to give of ourselves and to give our undivided attention to the moment, to the person, to the situation before us,” Fr. Olmo concluded. “O Lord, open the ears of our hearts, so that we can be attentive and present to your Son Jesus as he tells us just how much you love us."