Posted by The WORD in other words (2018) by Fr Mark Angelo Ramos SVD – Madrid, Spain
Thursday 16th Week in Ordinary Time
To hear is a natural human capacity but to listen is a choice. We can choose to give attention to the words that we hear. “To hear” in this way becomes a personal decision.
This is what Jesus wants to teach when using parables in proclaiming the Good News: an attitude of patiently paying attention to things around us; allotting time for reflection and contemplation to understand and be enlightened by the messages that we have read or heard.
Parables serve to conceal or reveal in a veiled way as much as convey the truth – catching attention and shocking the hearers too. That is why deep attention and “looking into” are necessary for understanding the message of parables.
Today, we hear a lot of beautiful statements, pieces of advice and teachings from different people. We read many enlightening articles, news and stories. But why is there very little change in our understanding and attitude towards things that matter: peace, justice, good governance, etc.? Maybe because we, being used to get things done the easy way, have not paid the necessary attention to what we hear or read.
Jesus wishes us to be involved in unfolding God’s message to us. He wants us to develop the attitude of drawing wisdom by paying attention to, reflecting on, and contemplating the different things around us. We hear them but we refuse to listen. We see them but we refuse to pay attention to them (Narinig natin ngunit ‘di natin pinakinggan… nakita natin pero di natin pinansin).
May we not take for granted the Good News around us. May we reflect on it so that we can better live it out.
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