More than 20 times in the readings this week, we hear something about the word of God, or God speaking, or people hearing the word of God.

For example, Jesus says: “My sheep hear my voice … and they follow me.” Speaking of some Gentile visitors, Peter says: “The Holy Spirit told me to accompany them.” The Acts of the Apostles recounts the beginning of Paul’s missionary travels: “The Holy Spirit said: Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” We are told that the disciples “proclaimed the word of God” in Antioch, where the disciples were first called Christians.

It raises a question that’s worth pondering: How do we hear God’s voice — what does it “sound” like?

God certainly speaks to us in Scripture. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us: “Through all the words of Sacred Scripture God speaks only one single Word” (CCC, 102).

We also hear God’s voice through the teachings of the Church. As the Second Vatican Council said, quoting from Luke 10: “the Sacred Council teaches that bishops by divine institution have succeeded to the place of the apostles, as shepherds of the Church, and he who hears them hears Christ, and he who rejects them rejects Christ and Him who sent Christ” (“Lumen Gentium,” 20).

In addition to these, God also speaks to each of us individually, in the depths of our hearts. I can’t tell you what that “sounds like” for you. But I can tell you it’s real, that we need to become more deeply familiar with how He speaks to each of us, and that we need to be faithful to His voice as it speaks in our hearts, too.

I certainly don’t mean anything goes! God’s voice tells no one to lie, commit murder or adultery, or break any of the commandments. If the voice in our hearts tells us to do any of those things, we can be sure it’s not from God!

But God’s word comes to us. Sometimes it inspires creativity, generosity, kindness or wisdom. Sometimes it nudges us to break down a wall by reaching out to a person. Sometimes it requires that we speak a word of correction. Sometimes it cautions us to hold our tongue and wait for a better time.

Think of it this way: Each of us has a conscience. We regularly speak of the “voice” of conscience. But that doesn’t mean we’re hearing things. Conscience is a spiritual voice. It doesn’t usually speak in words. Its typical language is an uneasy feeling when we’ve done something wrong, or a peaceful feeling when we’ve done something right. What if God’s voice is something like that?

When a boat goes by it leaves a wake. A boat is a physical object, so it leaves a physical wake. When the Word of God comes to our hearts, it too leaves a “wake.” But it’s a spiritual wake rather than a physical wake. What is that like, when God’s voice speaks to you?

Jesus says: “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31). He speaks to us in the words of Scripture, in the teachings of the Church and in the depths of our hearts. Let’s listen to Him in all the ways He speaks to us and remain in His word in all that we do.