Lent week three: Can you hear Him?

Mar. 18, 2022

Kamehameha Schools has created a series of Hawaiian-focused devotionals for the season of Lent, to honor the deep Christian faith of KS founder Princess Bernice Pauahi Pākī Bishop. The devotionals were designed to be used by students, staffers and others to celebrate the coming of Easter.

Heluhelu Baibala
Bible reading

No ia hoʻi, ma ka lohe ʻana ka manaʻoʻiʻo, a ma ka ʻōlelo a ke Akua ka lohe ʻana. – Roma 10:17

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. – Romans 10:17

He manaʻo o ka limahana
KS Maui Dean of Student Support Services Leo Delatori KSK’86

When I hear the word gratitude, I typically think of Thanksgiving. Yet, we are living during a time when we should express daily, our gratitude for the countless blessings we received – especially gratitude for our Savior, Jesus Christ. This is the season to “Hear Him!” The world we have today is filled with distractions that cloud our mind and ears from hearing Jesus or keeping us from drawing closer to Him. We each have an invitation from the Lord to “Hear Him,” if we are willing to remove distractions that block us from receiving his voice.

While attending graduate school, I had an opportunity to speak with a gentleman whom I admired greatly. Mr. Dodson was an officer in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. Living a spiritual life in the army during this historical period was not an easy thing to do. On top of this, he was responsible for the lives of the men in his platoon.

He went to Vietnam with his scriptures and prayed daily, “gratitude” for having Jesus Christ in his life. He shared stories of being in a foxhole reading scripture to keep his focus on Jesus. He demanded from each soldier, the need to make sacrifices by avoiding drugs or drinking alcohol.  He wanted them to be fully alert, so they could hear each other when the platoon went on patrol. He knew they were upset with him and even felt they wanted to “get rid” of him. They felt they could not do what the other soldiers were doing. At the end of the tour, each man returned home. 

With all the distractions of war, Mr. Dodson never wavered from keeping his focus on Jesus. He always felt he could “Hear his voice.” May you hear his voice this Lenten season, and may it give you peace.





KS Maui Dean of Student Support Services Leo Delatori KSK’86 reminds us not to let the distractions of everyday life stop us from hearing the word of ke Akua.