S6: Adventure Through Advent

E2: Speak Before You Listen

Jesus would often say to his disciples, “You have heard it said…” (Matt. 5:17) and then continue by quoting various sayings that were common in his day. Likewise, we’ve all heard it said many times, “Listen before you speak.”[1] It not only makes sense, it’s good manners as well, right? Well, Jesus would follow his comments with, “But I tell you…” (Matt. 5:18). It’s the conjuncture “but” that I’d like to capitalize on to contradict the saying that is allegedly filled with sense-making and manners.

So, we have all heard the inspirational maxim ‘listen before you speak’ but I want to tell you in this blog ‘speak before you listen! Yes, that’s right, I think you should always speak before you listen, every time and without fail.

Before you think I’m encouraging narcissism, I must qualify this contradictorily statement that insists on speaking first. You see, it works very well only in the context of prayer, and this particular context is important, especially in the season of Advent.

During the first week of Advent the focus was Hope. In this second week, people all over the world that observe Advent will be focusing on Preparation. So, how do we prepare to hear God speak to us? By speaking first.   

You see, before I can listen to God in prayer, I must muddle through my own words typically punctuated with “help me”, “I need”, or “would you”. Until I tell God what I want, I have absolutely no way of knowing if I honestly want what I’m asking for. If I really want to listen to God, I must get out of the way. It means I must first deal with self.

Madeleine l’ Engle (who wrote A Wrinkle in Time) believed that when artists were truly the servant of their own work, the work itself became better than the artist because they got out of the way.[2] In her words, Shakespeare often wrote better than he could write; Bach composed more deeply and truthfully than he knew how to; and the brush strokes of Rembrandt put far more of the human spirit on canvas than Rembrandt could comprehend himself.

When the work takes over, the artist is truly enabled to get out of the way. And when the work really does take over, the artist is able to listen to their work. Before they could listen their respective works of Macbeth, Overtures, or Sacrifice of Isaac they had to work hard. In exactly the same way, before we hear God we must first speak in prayer – and sometimes it is hard work – and then get out the way.     

One of the many sorrows that became part of our human makeup when Adam and Eve left the Garden of Eden was the loss of memory. We know this because Old Testament poetry is populated with the phrase “remember” particularly in the act of ritualistic sacrifices, offerings, or celebrations. By the time we arrive at the New Testament, we find that Jesus said the immortal words, “This is my body…this is my blood” (Matt. 26:26-28) followed by “do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19). From the rousing speech of Moses that became the Book of Deuteronomy to the chilling words of the angel that spoke to John about the church in Revelation, we hear the same phrase “remember”.

I submit to you that we remember by doing the hard work of speaking first then getting out of the way in order to listen to God. So, prayer is essential to the Advent observation of Preparation.

It is during this time of prayer – where we get out of the way – that faith comes, and the work of prayer comes into the presence of God where we can hear Him. You see, one of the greatest debates at this time of year surrounds the Virgin Birth. Many have said, “I do not believe Jesus was the Son of God because I do not believe in the Virgin Birth.” Faith does not lay in the realm of verification through valid and reliable data. If we can verify the Virgin Birth, or the Resurrection, why would we need faith?

I make a second submission to you that historicity clearly shows that a man called Jesus did exist, and that he was a good man teaching about the way of love, and that he was crucified. Even atheists believe this. But faith is needed to confess:

“I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen” (Apostles Creed).

I cannot prove beyond any reasonable doubt that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit in Mary. You see, faith is the other side of reason. The skill of reason involves the ability to think logically. Without reason society would be absolute chaos. This is why we have the rule of law. But faith that comes through prayer is an entirely different matter.

I recognize that people have given testimony in a court of law that God told them this or that. When we hear these types of testimonies it leaves us astonished that someone would actually believe this or that came from God. If I was an attorney, I would ask such a person, “Did you hear God speak to you after the hard work of prayer, where you got out the way, and faith came to believe the things you say?” I guarantee that person would not have gone the route of prayer.

Two of the hallmarks of faith that come through prayer are a powerful sense of humility and reverence for God. I would also add, a reverence for all that God created. A convincing evidence of these two hallmarks is heard in the questions we ask. Rather than seeking a watertight answer, we learn how to ask the right questions. The story of Job throws a huge spotlight on question-answer conundrum. At the end of the story, Job learned how to ask the right questions!

Now to the practicality of this second week in Advent.

Like last week, you will need a Bible, a hymn book (or a browser), a notepad and something to write with. Like the first week of Advent, on a daily basis through Advent from Sunday December 6 through Saturday 12:

• Offer an invocation. This is an opening prayer of thanksgiving to God for the hope we have. It also acknowledges the presence of God is with you.

  • Read Scripture out loud so you can hear your own voice.

  • Sunday Isaiah 11:1-10; Romans 15:4-13; Psalm 72:1-19; Matthew 3:1-12

  • Monday Luke 1:5-25, 57-80

  • Tuesday Matthew 4:1-6, 28:18-20

  • Wednesday Matthew 3:1-12

  • Thursday Isaiah 62

  • Friday John 1:6-34

  • Saturday Mark 1:1-8

• After you have read Scripture for that day, write your thoughts down. Try not to overthink this. Simply react to what the Scripture has been saying to you.

• Pray for the church the Body of Christ, for others, and for yourself.

• When you feel faith is coming get out of the way and let God speak to you.

• Read the hymn out loud so you can hear your own voice, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”

• Take a moment to pause and consider what you have done: Scripture, prayer, writing a few thoughts, reading a hymn.

• Offer a benediction. This is a closing prayer asking for God’s guidance.   

On Sunday December 13, I will post another blog with the theme of Joy and another simple liturgy to follow during the week. As you journey through each week, you will be hearing God through Scripture, prayer, the words of ancient hymns, and your own journaling.

You have heard it said, “Listen before you speak” but I say to you, “Speak before you listen”.

[1] First coined by American author William Arthur Ward (1921-1994). He created numerous inspirational maxims in his poems, articles, and meditations. 

[2] Walking in Water: Reflections on Faith and Art (Convergent Books, 2016).