Two Ears and One Mouth for a Reason

A favorite saying of mine is “You have two ears and one mouth for a reason.” Put another way, “When you speak, you’re repeating what you already know. But when you listen, you might learn something new.” Both might seem like truisms, but they are both good reminders to slow down and listen in our hectic modern world. 

Readers of this newspaper are no doubt aware that our Catholic Christian faith is broad, deep, and complex. Creeds and sacraments bind us all together, but the Church is also remarkable for its diversity—within a single church, people express their faith in myriad different ways. As I’ve matured in my faith, I’ve become more attentive to the way that listening makes me a better Catholic Christian. Listening, particularly to those with different spiritual and intellectual tendencies, brings me closer to God in all the different ways that we can understand and reach Him. 

At Boston College, studying theology is a form of listening. The Word of God and the Church Doctors speak to us across time and space, enlivening and confirming our faith. The Confessions, for example, bring us into conversation with St. Augustine and his remarkable reflections on faith and God. If we can slow down to read and listen deeply, we come away with a stronger faith. The writers of the past see and understand the world in completely different ways from our modern perspectives. 

Our Jesuit-inspired campus ministry also encourages transformative listening. At our Christian Life Community retreats, we run listening exercises, allowing students to practice the “skill” of listening to the experiences and stories of others. The ears are a muscle to be trained and can be developed through repetition and emphasis. And my campus minister gifted me a copy of God is Right in Front of You by Brian Grogan SJ, which describes St. Ignatius’ reflections on hearing and seeing God in all people and situations. God does not yell, He whispers, and can only be heard when we take the time to listen. 

I’ve also had the opportunity to learn and listen from other distinct faith groups. During my time abroad, I joined the Catholic center at Edinburgh University, run by the Dominicans. Again, I learned a lot by listening — to Latin hymns at mass, lectures on Aquinas at Thomistic Institute reading group, and reflections from local students on being conspicuously and proudly Catholic in a secular university and city. And here at BC, I joined Athletes in Action — a Bible Study composed of both Catholic and Protestant student-athletes and run by a non-denominational minister. I’ve learned new ways of breaking open the Word of God, and become more confident in proclaiming my faith in Jesus Christ. 

Time and time again, listening and being attentive to others has been a joy and a source of grace in my life. So my advice to you is this—listen deeply and appreciate that you can learn something from everyone about how to be a better and more faithful Catholic Christian.