Hearing well…

 

Jesus is talking about the parable of the sower who has gone out to sow seed. As he sows, the seed (or the word) falls into four types of grounds, with different results.

• Along the path – because of distraction or hardened hearts, this word is immediately taken away by the devil and doesn’t bear fruits.
• On rocky ground with little soil – the seed cannot take root and after the initial excitement from hearing the word has faded, the people cannot face up their challenges. The ground is shallow.
• Among thorns which grow up and choke it – the image of the cares of the world; the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things that can easily choke the word, and prove it unfruitful.
• The good soil – those who hear the word receive it, and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.

Jesus concludes with a warning: If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.

Later on, while He is alone with His disciples, He insists saying: "Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away." Mk 4:24-25

Jesus will repeat this warning on another occasion. He is talking about the wicked servant in the parable of the talents (Mat 25:26-29) and says to the disciples: “His master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant!… You ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”

When we put the two events together, we understand that the LORD expects multiplication and productivity. Talents should not be buried and the seed – the word – should not be wasted. The LORD speaks to be heard, listened to, and obeyed. When His Word comes out, when it is sown, by whichever medium, it must be executed. Woe onto who comes in between. This is why we are exhorted to take heed to what we hear. In other words, ‘Do not be distracted. Pay attention to what GOD says. Keep it in the good ground of your hearts and fructify it.’

The sower is already out there sowing. The mystery of the kingdom of GOD, the secrets of 2014, will be revealed to us through words. Let’s not be like those outside for whom everything is in parables – i.e. unintelligible. Let’s not be like those who hear without understanding and thus cannot convert – cannot change their ways; their old and wrong way of doing things (Mk 4:11-12). If we put all the words that we have already received to good use, He will reveal even more mysteries and secrets to us. But if we neglect them, we will loose even what we believe to be in our possession already. A word to the wise is enough.

Once again, Happy New Year.