Annunciation Catholic Church in Altamonte Springs shared a recent reflection from the pastor about attentiveness to the Lord's words.

The Rev. Ivan Olmo noted that Jesus told the chief priests and elders a parable and that his constant reminding of the lessons he was teaching should be a reminder not only to those who he was speaking to, but also to us. But it can sometimes be challenging to remember to listen to the words of the Lord in the Scripture.

“Did the sacred text cause you to stop in your tracks with the words ‘Jesus said’ and move you too long to hear a word or a phrase from Jesus that might speak to you, might be an answer to your prayer or may pertain to something you are experiencing at work, home or school?” Fr. Olmo said in the church's Oct. 4 bulletin. 

While our gut reaction may be to assume that we know the Lord is trying to teach us in a parable, the truth is that we need to listen to his voice and discern what we can learn from his words. 

“What could be better in a busy schedule, a fast-paced day or a hectic moment than to stop for a second and enter into a conversation with God and hear a word of comfort or share a moment of peace?" Olmo reflected. "The parables are meant for us to stop, to listen attentively and ask ourselves, ‘What is Jesus saying to us— what is Jesus saying to me?'"

As in so many situations, we can look to the example of Mary and what she did, how she listened to the words of God and how she responded in love and with an open heart. If we apply each sacred parable of the Lord as if it was meant to speak directly to us, how much we could learn.