A listening ear
by Colleen Fitzpatrick
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Whoever has ears, let them hear (Matthew 11:15).
Read Matthew 11:11–15
Today’s reading follows on from Monday’s, when we considered whether Jesus is ‘The One’.
In today’s reading, Jesus says that John brings to a climax the kingdom of the prophets and the law, the high point of it. What follows is the kingdom of heaven, where even the lowest person is greater than John was. Such is the amazing grace of the Saviour. The prophecies ended with John the Baptist. The new order is here.
Jesus is letting people know that what he is saying is important – he wants people to hear and to understand what he is saying.
Listening is important. If we hear what is being said, we comprehend, we understand, and we take to heart the message. Do you know someone who is a good listener? The sort of person who lets you talk without interruption, who looks at you when you speak, maybe nodding occasionally and responding to the content of what you are saying. They make you feel that you mean something to them.
Speaking clearly is important to ensure that what we say is heard. Other things to be mindful of are that we do not talk too fast, that we speak clearly and that our language is appropriate for our audience.
If we want to share the good news of Jesus’ birth in our family or community, we need to be mindful that the words we use are not a deterrent to our message being heard. Let’s face it, we often use fancy words when we start talking about church matters.
Perhaps in the coming days, when we hear Christmas carols on the radio or being broadcast in shopping centres, we can take the time to remember the words that go with the familiar tunes and let them bring hope and comfort into our hearts. We have ears – let them hear what is being sung. And give glory to God for the miracle of Jesus’ birth that we are celebrating, once again.
Loving Saviour, thank you for coming into the world and bringing the new order. Thank you that we can, once again, celebrate your birth, hearing the familiar readings and singing the familiar songs. May this time of celebration give us joy and hope as we move forward into the coming year. Amen.
Colleen Fitzpatrick is retired and lives in Adelaide. She enjoys reading and writing. She particularly enjoys listening to people’s stories and telling her own stories. Colleen finds storytelling a great way to learn about people, who they are and what they do. She loves nature and the beauty of God’s creation – and wishes she could understand what her favourite magpies talk about.
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