This reflection is based on the BCP gospel reading for Sunday 7 Feb 2010

This story has been heard so many times and it is difficult to come to it and expect to get anything else from it. It is over-familiar to us, but bear with me for a moment. In the middle of this gospel reading Jesus days “Let anyone with ears to hear listen!”

When we began to follow Jesus we had to learn, like a baby and child, how to recognise the Jesus’ voice. How to discern the voice of the creator in and amongst the chatter of life. Perhaps as time has gone on this voice has blended into the background once again. Just like the parable, the voice has become over-familiar and we don’t expect to hear much from it. Life has settled into the rut of discipleship: going to church, reading the scripture and praying for our needs; and we no longer expect the challenging, encouraging, life-giving encounters with Jesus.

Perhaps as we listen to this familiar parable expecting to hear very little, we might be challenged to pay more attention to listening to the One who speaks and become once again one who hears.