Several years ago I had a conversation with a pastor friend who has been deaf since childhood. They recalled the story of using hearing aids for the first time and how it radically changed their experience of the world.
They also recalled their continued experience of deafness–missing the words and sounds around them. It brought to light a particular realization that we do not want God to simply “hear” us… What if God also sometimes just doesn’t hear that prayer or need? Rather we want God to receive and hold our prayers. For this reason, the response to “Lord, in your mercy” has been changed to “receive our prayer.”
As with last week, there is a tradition, particularly in the psalms, of God “hearing” us in scripture and either response is appropriate.
~ Pr. Chelsea