The Valley of Decision and the Blessedness of Hearing

Joel 4:12-21, Psalm: 96, Lk 11:27-28

Memorial of Saint John XXIII, Pope

My dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

On this Memorial of Pope Saint John XXIII, the jovial and Spirit-filled “Good Pope John” who opened the windows of the Church to the modern world, the Word of God presents us with a powerful contrast. It is the contrast between the cosmic drama of divine judgment and the intimate, personal path to blessedness. Through the prophet Joel’s vision and a simple, profound word from Jesus, we are shown that our ultimate safety and joy lie not in worldly power, but in attentive obedience to God.

The reading from Joel is majestic and terrifying. The Lord declares that He will bring all the nations down to the “Valley of Jehoshaphat,” which means “The Lord Judges.” It is a scene of ultimate reckoning, where the wickedness of the nations is met with divine justice. The imagery is stark: the sickle is swung, the winepress is trod, and the heavens and earth shake. Yet, in the midst of this judgment, the Lord is a “refuge for his people,” and Jerusalem will be holy, a place of abundant life where “a fountain will come forth from the house of the Lord.” This is not a God of arbitrary anger, but a God who passionately defends the cause of justice and the holiness of His covenant people.

This grand vision of judgment might seem distant from our daily lives. But the Gospel brings it startlingly close. A woman in the crowd, overwhelmed by Jesus’ teaching, raises her voice to bless His mother: “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed!” It is a beautiful, human compliment, honoring the intimate physical bond between Mother and Son.

But Jesus gently redirects the focus to an even greater blessedness: “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.” Here is the key that unlocks both readings. The ultimate “Valley of Decision” is not a geographical location in the future; it is the present moment of our own hearts, where we choose to hear God’s word and act on it. The true refuge from chaos and judgment is not a fortified city, but a soul in harmony with God’s will.

This is the blessedness that Saint John XXIII embodied. When he convoked the Second Vatican Council, it was not an act of worldly strategy, but a profound act of listening. He listened to the “signs of the times” with a discerning heart, trusting that the Holy Spirit was speaking through them. His famous aggiornamento—the updating of the Church—was rooted in his deep, personal observance of the word of God. He heard the call to pastoral charity and responded with courage. He demonstrated that true strength lies in humble obedience to the Spirit.

For us, the application is clear. We need not fear the great “Valley of Decision” if we are making the right choices in the small valleys of our everyday lives. The judgment of nations begins with the judgment of our own choices: Will we hear the word of God in Scripture and in the teaching of the Church? And having heard, will we observe it? Will we forgive when it is hard? Will we speak with charity when we want to gossip? Will we act justly in our workplaces?

This is the path to blessedness. It is the path of Mary, who is first and foremost blessed because she heard the word of God and kept it perfectly. It is the path of Saint John XXIII, who trusted in God’s providence with a cheerful heart.

Let us pray for his intercession today. May we, like him, have the courage to listen attentively to the Lord and the generosity to observe His word in all things, so that we may be found among the blessed, for whom the Lord is an eternal refuge and a fountain of life. Amen.