"hanging on his words" are what most of us hope to do when we get into our personal "prayer mode." We hope our attention is not distracted the many kinds of "thieves" who could steal our attention away from our prayer.
Perhaps we should begin each time of prayer trying to understand the word or words we use to begin our prayer: "Lord" or "God" or "Father." We usually use one of these titles and then immediately proceed into laying out our needs. "Lord, help me get something (like a deeper awareness or more specific need) from the words you speak to me now." Then we proceed to tell God precisely why it is that we are "praying."
The final sentence in today's selected gospel moment describe the people as "hanging on his words." That seems to be far from telling, far from an explicit expression of our needs. When we begin with "Lord" or "God," what are we saying? Perhaps we use these terms so often that they are little more than the "yes ... yes ... yes" we use in our conversations with others without really thinking about what we are saying. "Lord" and "God" usually means someone who is a ruler, someone with power over others, a creator. If my personal prayer begins with this awareness of his power, his care for me, then it is so much easier to "hang on his words." It is much more satisfying to allow him speak to me, to tell me what is best for me.
We have to make the house of prayer we enter each time we pray, regardless of the place of our prayer, to be free of the "thieves" who try to take away the quiet whispers the "Lord" or "God" is trying to speak in our hearts."it is yours to give grandeur and strength to all."
(from Responsorial Psalm)
