Listening to God

67. Listening to God, in the presence of the poor, will open up the human heart and lead it to seek an ever-new personal encounter with God. This encounter, which God is seeking, in a ceaseless search for all humanity and the whole human being, will continue along the daily path which gradually transforms the lives of those who agree to "open the door" to God who humbly knocks (Cf. Rev. 3:20).

Listening to God demands time with and for God. It is personal prayer. This alone enables the human being to have a change of heart and hence of deeds. The time taken up by God is not taken away from the poor. A strong and balanced spiritual life has never removed anyone from the service of their brothers and sisters. If St. Vincent de Paul (, 1660) — who was so well known for his commitment to the poorest of the poor — was able to say: "Leave off your prayer if your brother asks you for a cup of tea", let us not forget that he used to pray for seven hours a day, and it was on this that he built up everything he did.