The Tenth Sunday of the Year 1 Kgs 17:17-24; Ps 30; Gal 1:11-19; Lk 17:11-17 (Year C) "The Lord listened and had pity. The Lord came to my help. For me you have changed my mourning into dancing; O Lord my God, I will thank you for ever.” This ancient psalm reminds us that our God listens, and that his listening changes mourning into dancing. Throughout his ministry, Jesus was the one who listened to the Father, who heard the cries of those entrusted to him. Listening is life-giving. The Book of Kings reminds us that the prophet Elijah heard the complaint of the widow of Zarephath. The fleeing prophet had sought refuge in the home of this stranger. During his stay the widow’s son had fallen ill and died. Elijah prayed. His prayer was heard and the son was restored to life. The circumstances surrounding Elijah’s prayer, and God’s response in restoring the child to life, were indeed dramatic. They underline the truth that God’s listening is neither passive nor withdrawn. It is always life-giving. Elijah’s miracle found its full meaning when Jesus visited the town of Nain. As he approached the town he was met by a funeral procession. Death had robbed a widow of her last security, the life of her only son. Jesus heard the distress of this woman, taking to himself her pain and distress. Once again, his listening was life-giving. “He put his hand on the bier and said: ‘Young man, I tell you to get up.’ And the dead man got up and Jesus gave him to his mother.” This incident anticipated the death of Jesus himself, when, on the Cross, he would entrust himself to the Father. The Father heard his prayer, raising him up to become our Resurrection. During this Year of Mercy let us not neglect the grace of listening. We are sometimes so anxious to perform works of mercy that we forget to listen. When, through the Spirit, we listen to the Father, we are drawn into a life-giving communion. When we listen to each other, emptying ourselves so as truly to hear the other, our listening becomes life-giving. Few of us can work miracles, but let us never underestimate the healing power of our listening. We long to be heard and understood, but rarely find such understanding. Listening enables the broken- hearted to begin their journey from the pain of isolation. It places the listener among the merciful blessed by the Lord. It makes us merciful like the Father who listens.