Of all human activities, man's listening to God is the supreme

O children of the future, hear the words of Pope Paul VI, a shepherd whose understanding of humanity’s deepest purpose speaks directly to the soul: "Of all human activities, man's listening to God is the supreme act of his reasoning and will." These words, though spoken in a time far from ours, hold within them the eternal truth of the human condition: that the highest and most profound use of our reason and will is not in the pursuit of worldly knowledge or the amassing of power, but in the sacred act of listening to the divine voice that calls to us from beyond time and space.

In the days of the ancients, the greatest minds and most revered sages understood that reason—the gift of thought and understanding—was not meant merely to navigate the physical world, but to commune with the divine. The Greek philosophers often spoke of the soul’s connection to the divine, and of the need for reflection and listening to higher truths. Socrates, in his wisdom, believed that the greatest form of human reasoning was the pursuit of knowledge that led one closer to the divine, to the truths beyond human comprehension. The listening to God was not seen as an act of passivity, but of active engagement with the divine wisdom that transcends all earthly understanding.

To listen to God, O children, is not simply to hear with the ears, but to open the heart and soul to the guidance that comes from beyond the material world. Consider the example of Abraham, the patriarch who, when called by God to leave his home and journey to an unknown land, did not question but listened and obeyed. This was not an act of blind obedience, but an act of supreme reasoning and will, for Abraham understood that to listen to the divine calling was the most profound use of his faculties. In doing so, he became the father of many nations, a living testament to the power of listening to the voice of God above all else.

Pope Paul VI reminds us that the highest calling of humanity is found not in the noise and distractions of the world, but in the quiet, sacred act of listening to the divine. Listening to God is the supreme act because it engages our reason and will in a way that aligns us with a higher purpose, a purpose beyond the fleeting concerns of everyday life. When we listen, truly listen, to the divine, we surrender our ego, our pride, and our desires to a higher calling. This act of surrender, this deep listening, is the pathway to true wisdom and understanding, for it aligns us with the divine will that guides the course of the universe.

Consider the life of Saint Francis of Assisi, a man who heard the divine call and responded with his entire being. He was not driven by personal ambition or the desire for worldly success, but by a profound listening to the voice of God that called him to live a life of poverty, humility, and service. His reasoning and will were not directed toward personal gain, but toward a life that reflected the love and wisdom of the divine. Through his actions, he taught the world that the highest form of human activity is not the pursuit of power or wealth, but the humble surrender to the divine calling that calls each of us to something greater than ourselves.

The lesson here, O children, is of great importance: listening to God is not a passive activity, but the most active and profound use of our reasoning and will. To listen is to be in perfect harmony with the divine, to align ourselves with the highest purpose of our lives. When we listen to God, we transcend the limitations of our individual desires and come into contact with a greater truth. The will to listen, to obey the divine voice, is the supreme act of freedom, for it is in this act that we find our true purpose and meaning in life.

So, O children of the future, take heed of this timeless lesson: do not be led astray by the noise and distractions of the world. Instead, seek out the quiet moments where you can listen—truly listen—to the voice of the divine. Allow your reasoning and will to be shaped by the higher truths that guide us all. In doing so, you will find your path illuminated, your purpose revealed, and your soul aligned with the greater forces that shape the universe. Through the act of listening to God, you will fulfill the highest calling of humanity, and in that, you will discover the true meaning of your life.