How well do you listen? - May 10

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 72; PM Psalm 119:73-96
Wisdom 13:1-9; Rom 13:1-14; Luke 8:16-25

“No one listens to me!” says the not-quite-teenager who lives in our house. It is a routine complaint that she submits to us. She wants to be heard, understood, and heeded. (So do I!) And so, our battle of egos and personalities wages on, with God’s love keeping us in orbit together. This parenting challenge is not isolated to my own experience…perhaps you have heard or felt this tension through your own process of maturation.

Jesus’ message from Luke 8 speaks to the ways we listen and pay attention. In yesterday’s gospel reading, Jesus tells the parable of the sower distributing seeds upon different types of ground, affecting how they grow. He concludes, saying, “Let anyone with ears to hear listen.” The disciples ask a clarifying question, for they do not understand the teaching story, and so Jesus explores the meanings of the varies terrains and seeds with regard to faith and life.

Then, we hear what is appointed for today, beginning with Luke 8:16 – “No one after lighting a lamp hides it under a jar, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light.” I listened to this scripture in a fresh way today. Jesus tells the disciples that after hearing such a truth about the growth and fullness that can come from a life grounded in the Good News of God in Christ, that light cannot be covered up, ignored, or shoved in the back of a closet. When we have a-ha moments, we get to put those insights in a place where we revisit them, ponder them, share them, and continue going deeper in our faith. Perhaps that is why there is a niche for inspirational words as wall art – we need reminders to cling to faith, hope, and love, or to “accept what is, let go of what was, and have faith in what will be.”

When we listen to the Good News of Jesus and let that hope inspire us – we are receiving a gift. The Word of God is a gift given to anyone with ears to hear. We are invited to listen. To hear. And to do something about these messages of faithful living.

May we each have ears to hear, minds to ponder, and hearts to respond deeply to the promise and love of Jesus this day.

-- Katherine+

Questions for Reflection: 

Do you consider yourself a good listener? Who listens well to you? When is it hard to listen to others?

Daily Challenge:

Reach out to someone this week who is hard for you to listen to. Ask how you can pray for them. And ask them to pray for you, too.