Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

Learning to hear what we don’t want to hear  

Luke 9:43B-45  

While they were all amazed at his every deed, Jesus said to his disciples, “Pay attention to what I am telling you. The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.” But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was hidden from them so that they should not understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.   

          People often hear what they want to hear. We have filters in our minds that block what is disagreeable and painful, while it allows to enter only what is agreeable and pleasant. And this “filtering feature” is never more on display than in presidential debates. Each candidate will hear questions from the moderator which they will filter and answer in a way that best suits them, even if they often miss the point of the whole question.   

          A classic example of this was in a debate in 1984 between President Ronald Reagan and Walter Mondale. The moderator said to Reagan: “You already are the oldest president in history, and some of your staff say you looked tired after your recent encounter with Mr. Mondale. I recall that President Kennedy went for days on end with very little sleep during the Cuban missile crisis. Is there any doubt in your mind that you would be able to function under those circumstances?” Reagan replied: “Not at all. And Mr. Trewitt, I want you to know also that I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit for political purposes my opponent’s youth and inexperience.” People, especially presidential candidates, hear what they want to hear.   

          This is the principal problem in the gospel today: people’s selective hearing. Jesus discusses with his disciples something disagreeable and difficult. He says: “Pay attention to what I am telling you. The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.” But how did the disciples hear this news of Jesus’ suffering and death? The gospel goes on to add: “But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was hidden from them.” In other words, the disciples were happy to hear about Jesus’ miracles and cures, but they had sudden hearing loss when he talked about his cross and death. Presidential candidates as well as Christian disciples hear what they want to hear.   

          Of course, selective hearing is a sickness that doesn’t discriminate; it’s an ailment afflicting all of us. When the doctor says you have a 90% chance you won’t survive the surgery, you hear you have a 10% chance you will. We perk up when the priest preaches about heaven and happiness and halos, but we fall asleep when he touches on confession and contraception and collections. I always get a kick from older people who suffering from so-called hearing loss. But when someone says something criticizing them, suddenly they’re cured and hear every syllable! We all hear what we want to hear. So, try to listen to what you don’t want to hear. Clean your filter so you hear everything that the Holy Spirit wants to tell you.   

          On Monday night, we’ll have the first presidential debate between Clinton and Trump.  And I can’t wait; my popcorn is ready.  Pay attention to how the candidates hear what they want to hear, and answer questions that were never asked. But don’t laugh and point fingers at them; realize that you and I do exactly the same.   

          Praised be Jesus Christ!