TWO EARS, ONE MOUTH

A REFLECTION FOR THE 11TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

When it comes to speaking up and joining in the conversation of people around us, we often act as though the most important thing is to impress others with our knowledge and wit.  This false objective replaces what we should really be trying to do, which is to help them on their path to God.  We focus so much on looking good in the eyes of our neighbor that we end up failing to make the point of what we really should be saying.  We act as though it’s all about “me” and not about the needs of the person with whom we’re communicating.  Today’s Gospel restores our priorities in this regard, and we should try and retain the lesson it gives us.

Think about it, isn’t it true that the main role of speech is to be an instrument of that love which is the chief commandment?  To love God with our whole heart and mind and soul and strength means that we should love God also with our whole voice.  We should pray often, talking, conversing with God, communicating to him our adoration, repentance, thanksgiving and petitions.  But even before we do this, there is something we must first accomplish, and that is to listen.  As children we listen as our mothers and teachers teach us the catechism, the basics of our faith.  By listening, we learn about God, and only after we know something about him are we able to then love him and serve him.  Listen first to the truths about God, then talk to him.

The same goes for people.  Before we can love our neighbors, we must first get to know them.  That means listening to what they have to say, understanding their likes and dislikes, their fears and worries, learning about their careers and family life, whatever they choose to tell you.  In fact, your very first act of charity towards your neighbor is to listen to him. 

In today’s Gospel, our Lord first puts his fingers into the ears of the deaf mute, and only then does he touch his tongue.  His ears were opened and his tongue was loosed, and “he spake plain.” Let us open our ears to the words of our neighbors, not just their words of goodwill and compassion, but also to their requests, suggestions, even their complaints.  Listen, and you’ll know what to say.  You’ll know how to approach their most basic needs and be there, as a good neighbor, to help them in the most effective way possible.

It is said that there is a good reason we have been given two ears but only one mouth. We should do twice as much listening as talking.  If we listen to our neighbor instead of turning a deaf ear, then maybe we won’t sound quite so dumb when we speak!