HEARING

Sunday morning, Pastor Lawrence emphasized the difference between types of hearing. As used colloquially in English, and as defined by Webster’s, “hearing” is a physical act of the ear. It is sound waves, and vibrations. Processing of that information may or may not occur. The Hebrew word for hearing, however, has the idea of action embodied within it. 

It is possible to drive down the road, physically hear the siren of an ambulance, and then continue driving. Perhaps you were too involved in your own thoughts for it to translate into action. Or perhaps you processed that there was an ambulance and that you needed to pull over, but then you made the conscious decision that your own mission or convenience were more important than translating the hearing into action.

It is clear that if our actions do not follow, then we have not properly “heard”. What does this mean in the most practical terms?

We can start most simply with the command of our Lord to “love the Lord your God with all of your heart, with all of your soul, with all of your mind, and with all of your strength…and love your neighbor as you love yourself.”

Do we hear the command to love Him with everything? Then let us spend time with Him. Let us turn our thoughts to Him.  

Do we hear the command to love our neighbors? Let us let go of offenses, and as C.S. Lewis says, pray for, and work towards, the good of those around us. 

To him who has ears to hear, let him hear.