What's the Frequency?

I spent the summer of 1990 working in a parish in London. That year, they had just installed a new high tech, wireless sound system that worked on radio waves.

The system debuted on a Saturday night, during the evening Mass. During the first reading, it started to crackle. Then, during the second reading, static was breaking through. During the gospel, we could hear a bit of talking and some music as one hears when scanning between radio stations. Then, just before offertory, a Judas Priest song began blaring over the sound system. (Of course, it couldn’t have been the Carpenters or Bread, it had to be Judas Priest).

The system had to be turned off for the rest of the weekend. When the technician returned on Monday, he said there was a problem with the frequency it was tuned to. A little fine tuning and the system was back on line.

Radio, television and satellite waves are always coursing through the air. We are unaware of them unless we have a radio or TV to pick up the signal. Even then it has to be tuned to just the right frequency for the sound to come through.

God is also trying to communicate to us. Most of the time we are oblivious to it. We are too tuned in to what we are doing or what we wish we could be doing to listen to Him. But He is trying to reach us in whatever way we can. It takes a little tuning in to be able to hear Him.

Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice.” The sheep are those who recognize His voice when He calls and are ready to say “Yes” to whatever He commands. Because they are not so absorbed in their own concerns, they are tuned in to the One who leads them in the paths of everlasting life.

How do we get tuned in? By prayer, reading Scripture, receiving the Sacraments and serving the needs of others. With practice and grace, God’s message will come in loud and clear.