Making Space for God and One Another
Three weeks into our five week sermon series on Sacred Listening, we are discovering something revolutionary: listening, truly listening, is not passive. It is active, intentional, and spiritual. Sacred listening requires our attention and intent. It creates a Holy space because it is built on trust. And it needs connection: real, mutual, Spirit-filled connection. These three threads form the fabric of a faithful community, one where the Holy Spirit is invited to move.
In our introduction, we explored the basic practice of sacred listening. Many of us are surrounded by noise, internal and external, but rarely feel truly heard. Listening sacredly calls us to pause, to open our hearts, and to be fully present. It is not about fixing or advising, but about offering dignity, presence, and care. When we listen in this way, we make space not only for one another but for the quiet voice of God.
The next week brought us into the rhythms of prayer. So often we think of prayer as speaking, presenting our requests to God. But what happens when we listen in prayer? We remembered that God’s presence is constant. Like a steady signal, God is always reaching out: through scripture, through silence, through the ordinary patterns of our day, and through people who respond to what we believe we are discerning. Sacred listening in prayer becomes a way of attuning ourselves to the divine presence that is already there, waiting for us to notice.
Last week, we acknowledged a painful truth: many people feel lonely, even while surrounded by others. This loneliness happens when we shut ourselves up inside, in our prayer practices, or our social connections. Sacred listening becomes a healing balm. It tells someone, “You matter. You are not alone.” And that kind of listening, offered freely and without judgment, becomes a vessel for God’s grace. In our listening, we reflect God’s care. In being heard, people often feel seen, by both the listener and by God.
This Sunday, we turn to the theme of trust with a sermon titled “Trust Issues? We God You.” Sacred listening depends on trust and vulnerability. Without it, words remain guarded and hearts remain closed. But trust does not come easily, especially in a world where disappointment and cynicism are common. The readings this week speak to the nature of faith, of stepping forward into uncertainty while believing in promises we cannot yet see. Sacred listening becomes a tool for extending compassion and rebuilding trust: when someone listens deeply, without distraction or agenda, it communicates safety and respect. It allows walls to come down and healing to begin.
In our community, sacred listening is not just a practice for individuals; it is a way of being church. The Episcopal tradition offers important resources for this kind of formation: the church year rhythms that shape our attention, sacraments that remind us of God’s trustworthy presence, and a theology that insists every person bears the image of God. When we listen with intention, we affirm that truth in one another.
We still have more to explore in this series, but already we can sense the Spirit at work: drawing us closer, deepening our compassion, and inviting us to become a people shaped by listening. Sacred listening is not only something we do; it is something we are called to become. A people who reflect the heart of God by attending with love, building trust with grace, and making room for the Spirit in every conversation.
Let us continue listening: with our hearts, our prayers, and our whole selves.
Kevin+
