Hearing in the Heart

Whether we hear with our ears, eyes, or heart, in the Bible, the concept of “hearing” is attached to our being attuned to the movement of God in our midst. Samuel was given “ears to hear” by the older Eli, who could be pulled out of sleep by the whisper of the Spirit. Paul reflects on the power of the “word of Christ” in the promise it offers to those who are willing to hear and embrace the message of resurrection. And in the story of Jesus healing the blind man, it is notable how his reaction to the shouts of the man in distress differs from the Pharisees, who also hear the man, but who instead attempt to shout him down.