Using the Ears God Gave Me
Scripture – Mark 4:1-9: 1Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. 2He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: 3“Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. 8Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times.” 9Then Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
Reflection: So many things get in the way of my hearing things. Usually, I’m distracted by something. So if you are trying to tell me something, I might actually be listening to another conversation next to us, and I don’t hear what you’re saying.
Sometimes my perception of the speaker affects how I will hear what he or she says. With some speakers I’m inclined to tune in more carefully than I do with others.
Sometimes I just don’t want to hear what’s being said. I know I’ll be challenged – even convicted – if I pay attention. So I stop listening because I don’t feel like changing.
Lord, you have given me ears to hear. And you provide a lot of good things to hear, as well. Remind me to listen today – to give focused attention to people I meet. Thank you for always hearing me.
An Invitation: For anyone interested in sharing their personal reflections from this week’s readings, you are invited to come by the Tim Hortons donut shop at Dix-Toledo and Northline in
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