Let Me Hear What God the Lord Will Speak

A Reflection on the Psalm for Sunday, December 10th, 2023:
Second Sunday in Advent

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Psalm 85

R. Show us your steadfast love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation.

Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people. Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land.

R. Show us your steadfast love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation.

Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other. Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky.

R. Show us your steadfast love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation.

The Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase. Righteousness will go before him, and will make a path for his steps.

R. Show us your steadfast love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation.

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

Let me hear what God the Lord will speak…

Sometimes, Lord, I’m not very good at listening. To You, or to others. That’s funny, because my job literally depends on being able to listen to people. Not just listen, but listen well; listen for the hidden meanings between and underneath their words, their facial expressions, and their body movements; and be able to reflect what they’ve said to me back to them. I can turn on the listening skills pretty well when I’m at work. But at home, in my personal life, I’m not always aware that I’m not listening. I like to problem-solve, and I tend to think quickly, and I also like the sound of my own voice (I’m not proud of that). 

So the words of this Psalm jump out at me like a wake-up call. “Kim! Stop talking and doing and moving and being busy and LISTEN. LET GOD IN. Create space. Be still.”

Because there’s a very good reason to stop and let God speak:

…for He will speak peace to His people.

The peace that I’m seeking doesn’t come from chattering away non-stop. It comes from pausing, making time for prayer, quieting my heart, and seeking the Lord – listening with open ears for however He chooses to show up. This entire Psalm resounds with how much God wants to bless us with love, how steadfast and giving God is. He wants to bring us peace, if we prepare Him room.

I have been very blessed to have encountered the practice of Lectio Divina through friends here in Halifax. What a beautiful way of listening to and receiving God’s word. One of my friends always opens with a set of variations on a particular phrase from Psalm 46: “Be still and know that I am God…Be still and know that I am….Be still and know…Be still…Be.” Drawing us closer and closer to that stillness and readiness for listening.

I am blessed, too, by being able to attend a Holy Hour of Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament every Tuesday evening at my parish (all are welcome!). Though I serve as musician for this hour, all of us who are involved with Holy Hour feel that ample time for silent prayer is necessary and important. Simple time before Jesus to reflect and meditate on His question to the disciples: “Can you stay awake with Me for an hour?” 

I have so many ways to stop and focus my attention on the Lord, if I can but remember to stop talking and listen. Lord, may my prayer echo the words of this Psalm—let me hear what You will speak, for You will speak peace!




Kim Tan-MacNeill

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