Growing in Discernment: Listening Deeply to God’s Call
- Mar 8
- 2 min read
Last Sunday, some of our parishioners gathered for a Discernment for Lay Spirituality Formation session conducted by Derek Chong. It was a meaningful time of reflection, prayer, and listening together.
Derek reminded us that when God calls us, He is not calling us to become someone else — He is calling us home to our true nature, the person He created us to be. Discernment, therefore, is not simply about making decisions but about rediscovering who we are in God.
He also encouraged us to pay attention to our emotions. When strong emotions arise, they are not meant to be ignored or suppressed. Instead, they can be invitations to deeper awareness of what is happening within us and how God may be speaking through our experiences.
A key starting point for discernment, Derek shared, is metanoia — a change of heart and mind, a turning toward God. True discernment begins when we allow ourselves to be transformed, when we become open to seeing our lives through God’s perspective rather than our own limited view.
He also spoke about how, when we find ourselves deeply “in love” with God, our hearts begin to dream. These dreams often reflect the desires God places within us — seeds of vocation, service, and mission.
Ultimately, discernment is not a one-time exercise. It is a lifestyle of listening and responding, learning to notice God’s presence in the movements of our hearts, the circumstances of our lives, and the needs around us.
May we continue to grow as a parish that listens deeply, discerns prayerfully, and responds generously to where God is calling us.
