Tuesday, July 28, 2020

THE ATTENTIVE EAR


Reflection for Tuesday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time, Year A
(Jer 14:17-22; Mt 13:36-43)
At the end of the parable of the weed planted among the good seed, Jesus said, “He who has ears, let him hear.” This phrase indicates the seriousness of the message, and the need to be attentive and for prompt response to it. Prophet Ezekiel used the phrase to show that the word of God was being announced to a rebellious and stubborn people (Ezk 3:27). Hearing that statement, we come to understand how the word of God respects our freedom of choice, and sets us free. At the same time, it appeals to us to choose the message and act on it. “He who has ears, let him hear” presumes that we have ears, and should be wise to listen to do what the word says. And we are responsible for the consequences that would come upon us if we turn deaf ears to the word of God.

At the end of the parable, the unproductive and useless weeds, which represent all causes of sin and evildoers, are gathered by Angels and thrown into the furnace of fire, where there will be great suffering. “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father.” So, he who has ears will surely choose to live a righteous life. But knowing the right thing to do does not mean we will do it automatically. We do not easily listen to what God says, but we want God to listen to what we say.

The Prophet Jeremiah in the first reading addresses God as the only true God who hears His Children. So, he pleads to God on behalf of the people, telling Him all the sufferings and terrors they have been through. “If I go out into the field, behold, those slain by the sword! And if I enter the city, behold, the diseases of famine...” He asked God not to abandon Zion as they acknowledge their wickedness, the iniquities of their fathers, and their sins against God. Since God hears and answers prayers, Jeremiah affirms that their only hope is in God.

Therefore, to have an attentive ear to God who listens to us, we must incline our hearts to righteousness. Sin blocks our spiritual ears, such that we live like those who have ears but do not hear. And none of us can bear the consequences thereof. To develop an attentive ear to God, we must begin to listen to the silent voices within our hearts that speaks of peace, love, and self-denial. Every prompting of the heart that inclines us to selfishness and pride must be rejected. If we are attentive to God, surely, we will be attentive to those around us. We have ears; let us not harden our hearts, but listen to the word of God today (Heb 3:15).

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Tuesday July 28th, 2020.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

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