Shabbat Lessons - Those who have ears, let them hear

Maybe you're fortunate enough to have all your senses working perfectly, your legs, your organs. If that's the case, you're already truly blessed! How many people would love to have a fully functional body! Yet many of us may nevertheless fall on traps like taking it for granted or worse, not using it!

A few weeks ago during my Shabbat walk something quite interesting happened: I was lost in my thoughts and minding my own business, when an old lady walking her dog suddenly started talking to me. She was pointing the floor and saying she could not understand how people would not clean after their dogs. I answered her with words of sympathy and agreement looking ahead, when she tells me she needed to read my lips: ‘ich bin taub.’ Or I’m deaf’ in English.

Not being the most passionate about small talk, I concluded the chat and with a smile decided to move on with what felt like an uneventful encounter. The day was sunny and pleasant, so I walked all the way to the lake in my village and as I got there and opened my book, a man in his 30s sat besides me and started talking in a strange way and I assumed he was probably Italian or from somewhere else, because we could not communicate at all, until he showed me his mobile where I could read: ‘Ich bin taub’. Well, this guy was extremely annoying by the way, but that’s beyond the point.

Then it hit me. I had never interacted with a deaf person before, so what are the odds of talking to two in the same day? I have seen deaf people before, I remember watching them chatting in the train or at the bus stop and it was always amusing for me to see how eloquent our hands can be. The silent discussions of the deaf were quite energetic!

So anyway, in one day I met two deaf people who I had never seen before and have not seen again since, I did not approach them, they approached me. You can think it’s a coincidence and maybe it was, but in order to listen to the Creator, one must pay attention to what happens, especially during Shabbat.

A frequent passage in the Bible came to my mind: ‘those who have ears, let them hear’. and in case you have never noticed:

'This phrase appears 7 times in the gospels; 8 if you count Mark 4:23. (Most modern translations omit that one.) Two are duplicates of Matt 13:9 having to do with the Sower and the seed. A variation, “he who has an ear” appears 7 times in Rev 2-3, and another version, “let the reader understand” appears in Matt 24:15. These words, only used by the Lord, seem to underscore something important. It’s as if He’s saying, “Pay attention now. This part is not optional.” Adding them up gives us 14 passages that are required understanding for the believer.' He Who Has Ears, Let Him Hear – Grace thru faith

I would go a little further than the article's point. It's not only an invitation to pay more attention, it's a warning that not all will believe what they hear or give enough importance, for not all are equipped with the necessary awareness (or faith).

The Word of the Father, or the Bible is available for all, but comprehended in the hearts of a few. Its secrets are revealed little by little to those who have ears to listen, who quiet their spirits to let the Creator speak.

And this is not only necessary for the conversation with the Father, but with anyone actually. How hard it is to just listen, isn't it? To focus 100% on our surroundings, to put down our mobiles and other distractions and really pay attention to what we hear - beyond the surface.

In my company (and I’m sure that in many other it’s the same case), a sentence we hear quite frequently in calls and meetings is ‘sorry to interrupt’. We live in times where we feel pressured to make our point as fast as possible before another anxious soul interrupts you to say something and we are never quite sure if the other is actually listening or simply thinking about what to say next.

To humble ourselves in our ignorance about the world and engage in mindful conversations is some of our biggest challenges nowadays. The human nature is getting more and more self-absorbed in its misinformed judgments. The quality of education and critical thinking have never been worse, yet everyone has strong opinions about everything.

Have we always been like that? We are always in touch with so many people and in so many different platforms, but how meaningful are these connections? I remember way before internet was a thing, we used to write letters to each other and that required a special kind of effort. It's all so easy now, instant wishes, immediate compensations, so much information and an uttermost impatience.

Listening requires patience and a quiet mind and soul. Once we are less distracted by the things of the world, the Ruach Ha'Qodesh (Holy Spirit) will find the perfect conditions to say what we need to hear.

How about you? how are you using your ears?

Is there anybody listening? Is there anyone who smiles without a mask? What's behind the words - images They know will please us? I'll take what's real. Bring up the lights Is there anybody listening? Is there anyone that sees what's going on? Read between the lines Criticize the words they're selling Think for yourself and feel the walls Become sand beneath your feet