Listen!

Mark 4:3-9 “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.” Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” 

Thoughts: All I want us to hear today is how Jesus classically framed his parables.  He began by saying "Listen!"  And ends by saying "He who has ears, let them hear."  In Greek is is akouete...akouein, akouoto.  In this instance Jesus spoke from a boat so he could be heard.  Parables were told so that we could remember what we heard.  Luther said the organ of the Reformation was the ear.  We are called to pay attention partly because we are slack in really focusing on God. 

Prayer: Lord help me to hear and to heed.