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CAFOD
Advent calendar 2024 - 12 December

“The earth is our mother” artwork in São Paulo

He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

Matthew 11:15

In today’s gospel, Jesus finishes his teaching with some words we often hear from him. He calls on the people to pay careful attention to his words about John the Baptist. Our partner Andre Silva, who works with MDF (Movement in Defence of the Favelas) in Brazil, has written some powerful words on the close connection between listening and loving, which we’d like to share with you today.

Active listening

God, Father of goodness,
you in your infinite love invented active listening.
Listening to the cries of the people, you sent prophets,
actively listening, you sent your Son.
To listen is to love, to pay attention to what is being said,
and so you have responded,
you have listened.

Father, teach us to listen to Mother Earth and her cry,
Teach us to love Mother Earth as you love us.
May our listening be with action,
May our love be shown with care.
Let it be so, Amen!

Advent prayer

Listening God,
thank you for hearing us.
In a world where many voices
compete for our attention,
may we listen to your voice,
in the Scriptures, in prayer
and in those around us.
Amen. 

Act

Take the time to listen to others’ experiences with the CAFOD podcast, Voices of Change.

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Voices of Change

Voices of Change

Join us on the CAFOD podcast as we celebrate the voices that inspire hope and positive change.