Encountering Christ in Others—The Gift of Sacred Listening

One of the things I have become aware of in recent months is that appearances tell only a small part of a person’s story. A woman may have a successful career, a busy family life, and a warm smile, yet be carrying grief, uncertainty, disappointment, or fear that few people ever see. One of the unexpected gifts of ministry is being entrusted with others’ stories. In conversations that have taken place after retreats, in parish settings, among colleagues, and in everyday moments of friendship, I have been reminded that each person carries a story that is often hidden from view. While I will not share those stories, I can say they have taught me something about Christ’s presence. The more I listen to the stories entrusted to me, the more I realize that every person is carrying something, and every story deserves reverence.

These encounters remind me of Mary’s visit to Elizabeth. Both women were living with uncertainty. Both carried questions about what God was doing in their lives. Yet when they met, they did not focus on solving one another’s problems. Instead, they recognized God’s presence in each other.

Mary traveled to the hill country of Judah to visit her cousin Elizabeth. When they met, they did not simply exchange news. Elizabeth immediately recognized God’s presence in Mary and welcomed her with joy. “And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy” (Luke 1:43-44).

Mary arrived at Elizabeth’s home, uncertain about her future. Elizabeth, too, was living through an unexpected chapter of her life. Neither woman was there to fix the other’s circumstances. Instead, both were strengthened by the encounter and reminded that God was already at work in their lives.

How often, when we listen to someone’s story, is our first inclination to offer a solution? In these past few months, I have learned the importance of sacred listening and how God meets us in those moments. Through these conversations, I have encountered women who are strong, courageous, and vulnerable. Though their circumstances were different, they shared a deep trust in Christ and a willingness to continue moving forward in faith.

As I listened, I realized that my role was not to provide answers or fix their struggles. Instead, I was invited to be present, to receive their stories with reverence, and to recognize Christ already at work in their lives. In doing so, I discovered that listening itself can be an act of love and a place where God draws near. Mary and Elizabeth offer us a beautiful example of this kind of presence. When they met, neither tried to figure out the other’s circumstances; instead, they welcomed one another, listened deeply, and remained together in the mystery of God’s work unfolding in their lives. I invite you, the next time you find yourself in conversation with someone, to receive what is being shared as a gift and to invite Christ into that encounter. You may discover that Christ is already present in the story being told, in the person before you, and in the sacred act of listening itself.

Going Deeper

• Using the practice of Ignatian Contemplation, pray with the Gospel story from Luke 1:39-45. Allow God to fill your imagination through this story of accompaniment.

• The Beatitudes gives us insight and a model for practicing presence in sacred listening and beyond. Spend time reflecting in prayer with Matthew 25: 35-40, paying attention to how Jesus encourages us to accompany others.

• Learn more about the practice of compassionate listening with this article by Eric Clayton.

• In your prayer time this week, consider the questions of how you can be present to the next person who shares their story with you? How might God be inviting you to accompany them?

Photo by Meg Aghamyan for Unsplash

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Liz Aceves

Liz Aceves is a retreat facilitator and spiritual companion whose ministry centers on creating spaces for people to encounter God through prayer, reflection, and community. As Community Coordinator for Ignatian Ministries, Liz helps lead and organize virtual prayer groups, spiritual book clubs, and retreat offerings that support individuals in deepening their relationship with God. She also serves on Ignatian Ministries apostolic board committee.

She has co-facilitated Advent and Lent retreats, both virtually and in person, and she finds great joy in accompanying others on their spiritual journeys through the prayer practices of Ignatian Spirituality. Liz’s own spiritual life has been shaped by the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, which continue to ground her in ministry and prayer.

She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Pastoral Studies through the Loyola Institute for Ministry at Loyola University New Orleans, further deepening her formation and commitment to lay ministry as a Catholic school educator with a decade of experience teaching Spanish. Her love for working with children and teaching them about their faith and language has been a constant source of inspiration. Liz believes that learning a second language is essential in fostering acceptance and understanding among people of different cultures. Liz lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two sons and enjoys reading, hiking, and traveling.