Lk 10:38-42
Out of a hundred percent, we listen only about 25 percent of what we hear. 75 percent of what we hear is forgotten, ignored, and misunderstood. It is according the report of Diane Bone in her book called “The Business Listening.” Perhaps, it is true to our own life. There was little child wanted to talk to his parents. He just wanted to ask something. But his parents were busy texting with there cell phones A little innocent child was deeply hurt and felt rejected. He felt unloved, unimportant.
The experience of this child may be also the experience of the persons we love – our family, our friends, our children, our neighbors. We don’t have much time to listen to them. We don’t even look to the person we love. We cover our face with newspaper or just pretending that we are listening while watching TV.
The expression of true love is listening, a deep listening. The story of Martha and Mary is very connected to the theme last Sunday, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart… and love your neighbors as yourself.” Mary who sat beside Jesus and listening to Him is meant to explain this true love. Mary was just being there for Jesus. She was recognizing his presence. She gave Jesus her full attention. She fulfilled the greatest commandments – “To Love God and neighbors.” Indeed, the one who loves is the one who truly listens. Without listening, true love is impossible. If we truly love God, we would listen to Him in prayer. When we really love others, we would listen to their needs – and in listening, we can understand and ease the pain of others. In this way we have chosen the better part that nobody can take away from us.
But listening is not easy. We don’t want to listen. We have our own problem. We are too busy. We feel bored to what we heard. We are just proud. Listening demands our full attention, our “all-ear,” our loving presence. Like Mary, we should be able to listen to the people we love in a very simple way – to recognize their presence, to listen to their stories, to listen to their feelings, to listen to their needs and wants.
Listening is our commitment to love! Do we have enough time for it?
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