Posted by The WORD in other words (2006) by Fr Adonis Narcelles SVD – Germany
Thursday 2nd Week of Advent
When Fr. Raul Caga went to Germany for his Gospel Concert last year, we invited different groups and associations of Filipinos and Germans to witness this fund-raising event for the Divine Word Seminary-Tagaytay City. During the first concert in Heidelberg (where Jose Rizal studied and wrote “Noli Mi Tangere”) many people expressed positively their desire to watch the concert… but were not able to come to the concert itself! This can be related to the message of today’s Gospel: “If anyone has ears to hear, let him listen.”
St. John the Baptist is one of the major figures during the season of Advent. He is the prophet who announced the coming of the Messiah. Many heard his messages of repentance and renewal of life. But only few “listened” and concretized his message in their daily lives. Indeed: “If anyone has ears to hear, let him listen.” This quotation which seems to be paradoxical differentiates hearing and listening. Hearing remains in the level of sensation. Like hearing noise, birds singing or cars passing by. But listening has a deeper character. It means perception and response. More than the ears, we need the heart to listen…
The German word for hearing is “hören” which is the root word of the word “gehören” which means to belong! From this word comes the word “gehorchen” which means to follow. In order to hear, we have to “belong” solely to the speaker in total presence and concentration. Then we can be good listeners and only then can we act and follow what is demanded of us.
Do you still hear or are you already listening?
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