Are we listening?

So that they may look but not see, and hear but not understand. (Luke 8:10)

These words of Jesus are puzzling at first glance. Did he really mean that his reason for telling parables was so that people would not understand them? Certainly not! That would be just plain cruel. No, Jesus wanted to reach everyone. He told parables precisely because with their rich stories and familiar images, they are easier to understand. Most of Jesus’ listeners weren’t schooled in Scripture. So he gave them simple stories they could relate to, such as the parable of the prodigal son or this parable of the sower and the seeds, so that his teaching could find a home in their hearts.

Today’s parable is especially important because it deals with the word of God, which is “able to save your souls” (James 1:21). As he often did, Jesus was overdramatizing by using a little reverse psychology. If you tell someone they may have difficulty hearing you, they will most likely perk up their ears when you speak. And since the very subject of the parable is the importance of hearing, the more likely it is that we will really listen and become the kind of “soil” that produces good fruit. 

So how do we know if our ears are open? We know if the word we hear produces an effect, if our lives are changing. The whole point of the parable is to bring us to obey God’s word. The root of the word obey means both “to listen” and “to be persuaded.”

Today in your prayer time, try taking a “hearing test.” Read the parable out loud, slowly. Invite the Holy Spirit to listen with you. Are there particular points where he is telling you, “Stop; pay attention”? Perhaps something you read pricks your conscience. Perhaps something gives you a little sense of excitement or hope or direction. Whatever happens, let that word take root. Let it be translated from a thought into an action. Then make a note of what you have heard, and try to follow through on it. Try your best to approach it “with a generous and good heart,” and you’ll find it bearing wonderful fruit in your life (Luke 8:15).

“Lord, help me to be an obedient servant who hears you clearly, not just with my ears, but with my whole heart.”

from wau.org