This transcription blends a promotional segment with a spiritual reflection. It begins with a brief romantic teaser about Isabella and Rebecca, promoting an audiobook, and an ad for OLLI gummies aimed at parents. The core content is a Gospel reading from Matthew 22, where Jesus answers a Pharisee’s question about the greatest commandment, stating that loving God with all one’s heart, soul, and understanding is the first commandment, and loving one’s neighbor as oneself is second. The homily then focuses on a often-overlooked detail: before issuing these commands, Jesus says, “Hear, O Israel.” The speaker explains that the Hebrew word “Shema” is crucial, as biblical hearing is not mere sound reception but an act of welcoming, allowing the word to reach the heart and transform life. This listening is the foundation for love; without it, individuals remain self-centered, loving only their own ideas and needs. True listening involves stopping, contemplating the other, and creating inner space for their story, joys, and pains. The reflection concludes that listening precedes love, and love is born when the heart makes room for another’s existence, allowing them to be seen as they are. The message emphasizes that genuine love starts with the humble act of hearing.
I don't think I can be your friend, Isabella said.
Rebecca's stomach flipped.
This is the love story of real hinge couple Isabella and Rebecca,
written and read by me, Temi Denton-Hurst.
Listen to the free audiobook now.
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Read from Matthew, chapter 22.
At that time, the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees.
So they gathered in a group, and one of them asked Jesus to try it.
Master, what is the greatest commandment of the law?
Jesus answered,
You will love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your understanding.
This is the greatest and first commandment.
The second is similar to this.
You will love your neighbor.
You will love your neighbor as you will love yourself.
All the law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.
The word of salvation: Glory to Thee, O Lord.
If I asked you what are the commandments that Jesus taught in today's Gospel,
most likely you would answer immediately:
Love God and love your neighbor.
The answer would be correct.
But there is a detail, a very precious subtlety, that Jesus mentions before saying the two commandments.
A detail that many times goes completely unnoticed by our eyes and also by our heart.
Before talking about love, Jesus begins by saying:
Hear, O Israel.
I would risk saying that this little word is a condition for the other two commandments to really exist in the life of someone.
Because before loving,
it is necessary to learn how to hear.
The word that appears there is Shema.
Shema is a deeply important verb in the tradition of the people of God.
To hear in the biblical sense is not simply to capture a sound or receive an information.
To hear is to welcome.
It is to allow the word to reach the heart and transform life.
Therefore, throughout the whole first testament, God insists so many times with his people:
Listen, listen.
Because listening is the first movement of God.
Who wants to walk with God.
And here something very concrete appears for me and for your life.
No one truly loves if he has not learned to listen.
Who does not listen remains closed inside himself and ends up loving only his own ideas, his own needs, his own vision of the world.
Listening to someone requires a very deep inner attitude.
It means stopping, contemplating the other, looking into the eyes, welcoming each word, each silence, each gesture that reveals the life of the other.
Listening is to allow the other to exist within us.
It is to open inner space so that the story, the joys, and also the pain of the other can find a place on our horizon.
That is why listening precedes love.
Love begins when the heart creates space for the other to exist.
Whoever listens offers shelter for the life of the other within himself.
Whoever listens allows the other to emerge as he is without being reduced to our expectations.
True love is born in the heart.
True love is born in the heart.
Podcast Summary
Key Points:
The text opens with a fictional romantic snippet about Isabella and Rebecca, promoting an audiobook by Temi Denton-Hurst, followed by an advertisement for OLLI gummy supplements.
A Gospel reading from Matthew 22 recounts Jesus’ response to a Pharisee’s question about the greatest commandment, emphasizing love for God and neighbor.
The homily highlights a subtle detail
Biblical hearing means welcoming and allowing the word to transform life, not just receiving information.
True love requires an inner attitude of stopping, contemplating the other, and creating space for their existence, joys, and pains.
Without listening, people remain closed and love only their own ideas and needs; listening precedes love.
Summary:
This transcription blends a promotional segment with a spiritual reflection. It begins with a brief romantic teaser about Isabella and Rebecca, promoting an audiobook, and an ad for OLLI gummies aimed at parents. The core content is a Gospel reading from Matthew 22, where Jesus answers a Pharisee’s question about the greatest commandment, stating that loving God with all one’s heart, soul, and understanding is the first commandment, and loving one’s neighbor as oneself is second.
” The speaker explains that the Hebrew word “Shema” is crucial, as biblical hearing is not mere sound reception but an act of welcoming, allowing the word to reach the heart and transform life. This listening is the foundation for love; without it, individuals remain self-centered, loving only their own ideas and needs. True listening involves stopping, contemplating the other, and creating inner space for their story, joys, and pains.
The reflection concludes that listening precedes love, and love is born when the heart makes room for another’s existence, allowing them to be seen as they are. The message emphasizes that genuine love starts with the humble act of hearing.
FAQs
Isabella and Rebecca are a real hinge couple whose love story is featured in an audiobook, written and read by Temi Denton-Hurst.
OLLI promotes science-backed supplements, including probiotics and sleep support, to support nutrition, immune health, and family wellness.
The reading focuses on Jesus answering the Pharisees' question about the greatest commandment, emphasizing love for God and love for one's neighbor.
In the biblical sense, 'Shema' means to hear not just as capturing sound, but as welcoming, allowing the word to reach the heart and transform life.
Listening precedes love because true love requires opening inner space for the other to exist, which begins with hearing and welcoming their story, joys, and pain.
Someone who does not listen remains closed inside themselves and ends up loving only their own ideas, needs, and worldview.
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