Reflections

In Mark 4:9 Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear had better listen!” We see that statement throughout the Gospels. When Jesus says something He wants us to understand, often in a parable, He repeats this strong statement. We, however, often take to mean it is a holy suggestion, a piece of advice or a recommendation, rather than the command it is. I guess the first thing to do is to reach up to the sides of your head and check if you do in fact have ears. If you should discover ears there, then you are commanded to listen, listen to what Jesus says. It is important or else He would not told us to listen. And if by chance we do not understand what He is telling us, particularly in the parables before this command, then we are obliged to ask Him to explain it to us. Many of the parables are explained and many are not hard to understand. Where fall down is we fail to implement the lesson taught and heed the command to listen intently, carefully and then to obey.