“There's a lot of difference between listening and hearing ………At the Transfiguration God spoke and said the following, “This is my Beloved son listen to him”. At the Wedding Feast of Cana, Our Lady told the guests, “Do whatever He tells you”. Strong messages indeed, yet ignored by mankind……If we believe that Jesus Christ is God why do we not listen to Him?……Answer: We do not want to change, our pride prevents us from saying the words…”I am wrong” or “I am sorry”……Yet mankind is convinced, everyone is in heaven or goes to heaven for that matter…….If you step back, does that make sense?......... …….. Do whatever you want and still you get to enter the gates of heaven on “your” terms?.......Speaking personally, I have learned a great deal from listening carefully. My life has benefited greatly by it………The truth is, the road to heaven is paved with joy…….Don’t be fooled by the lie”

Gospel Text: (Lk 8:16-18)

Jesus said to the crowd:
“No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel
or sets it under a bed;
rather, he places it on a lampstand
so that those who enter may see the light.
For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible,
and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light.
Take care, then, how you hear.
To anyone who has, more will be given,
and from the one who has not,
even what he seems to have will be taken away.”

 

To “hear” the Word of God implies that you truly receive what Jesus teaches. Hearing is not just hearing the words spoken with your ears. One early Church Father, Saint Bede, explains that truly hearing the Word of God with our minds leads us to love that Word, and loving the Word leads to understanding. This is not accomplished by an intellectual exercise alone, as if our natural gifts are the primary means by which we comprehend all that Jesus teaches. Rather, it comes through spiritual insight gained by the supernatural gift of the Spirit Who teaches us all things.

 

If you want “more” understanding of the mysteries of God, then commit yourself to engaging the holy Scriptures with your mind. Read the Scriptures, ponder them and pray with them. It’s easy to forget that the Word of God is a Living Word. This means that when we prayerfully immerse ourselves in the Scriptures, we are prayerfully encountering God Himself. God is alive in His holy Word. We meet Him, personally, and this happens only by a special grace that we must be open to receive.

 

Reflect, today, upon your practice of prayerfully meditating upon the Scriptures. If this is not your current practice, resolve to make it so. Perhaps start with one of the Gospels and commit yourself to prayerfully reading it little by little every day. The goal is not to get through the books of the Bible. The goal is to enter into each book. Every chapter and every line provides us with a depth of spiritual insight and understanding just waiting to be given and received. Commit yourself to this holy practice, and you will be amazed at the spiritual riches our Lord bestows upon you.