iCrucified

LENT—Day 26: “Anyone with Ears” [2011APR04]

Scripture Meditation: (Matthew 13:1-23; Mark 4:1-20; Luke 8:4-15; Joshua 17:12-18; 2 Timothy 2:6-7)

I wish to begin our meditation with a couple of thoughts. First, I would like to consider what it means to “hear” God; how do we listen to Jesus? A common preface to his parables, Jesus would often say; “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” It seems to me then, if God is telling us to “listen up” it might behoove us to listen… A second consideration is the words from the apostle Paul to his young protégé Timothy in his second letter; he writes the following:

“And hardworking farmers should be the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor. Think about what I am saying. The Lord will help you understand all these things.” (2 Timothy 2:6-7)

Before we actually begin our study of these passages, we should spend time meditating, praying, asking God’s Spirit to teach us how we hear and listen for him to speak to us. The writer of the Letter to Hebrews tells his readers; “Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). Hearing and seeking, I think, go hand in hand. Several years ago while reading the Parable of the Sower (Hearer), I was awakened to an imperative statement from Jesus in a way I had never been aware of previously. Shortly after telling his disciples the parable of the seed (sower/hearer), Jesus tells his “listeners” the following:

“So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.” (Luke 8:18)

I recall the blood actually draining from my face and a holy fear coming about me as those words continued to echo in my brain sending tremors throughout my entire body and soul. If you pay attention (listen well, seek diligently, obey what you hear), more understanding will be given to you… But, if you do not listen well, even what you think you know will be taken from you. Oh. My. Lord, Help us.

“My spirit has become dry because it forgets to feed on you.” ~~John of the Cross

So, consider praying and meditating today to ask the Lord to reveal to you an honest assessment of how you are hearing him, listening to him, seeking him, and obeying him. How often through your day do you think about God? How often do you pause in silence to listen to Him?

Remember these steps as you spend time in God’s Word:

(1)    Quiet your heart

(2)    Read and Listen

(3)    Meditate

(4)    Pray

(5)    Listen for God

(6)    Agree to respond to what God want you to do…

A Franciscan Benediction

May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.

May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done. – (Author unknown)