The book of Hebrews opens up depicting a God who speaks in a new way.  "Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son..." 

According to Fred Craddock, the single most recurring characteristic of God in this book is that "God speaks."   He speaks through the Old Testament, through the prophets, through the Son (Christ), through the Holy Spirit.  Craddock says "God's voice is a living voice." 

I thought this was appropriate considering throughout our Lenten study we've been focusing on prayer and listening.  This entry concludes the lenten blog, and we return to where we started.  It's not always easy to listen to God's voice.  Even though it's a living voice, we are usually surrounded by louder voices that cause us to go the way of selfishness or pride.

This is why we have gone down to the desert, touched the sand, breathed slowly, inhaled the name of Jesus, and lifted our hands to God to receive our prayers.  I think under all of our deepest yearnings this Lent, our heartfelt repentance, our attempts at being disciplined, what we truly desired was to hear God. 

As we enter Holy Week, let us carve out space to listen to the living voice.   For God speaks.