It adds up
(by request)
“Take care, then, how you hear. To the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks he has will be taken away.”
In a Gospel that says a lot of odd-sounding things, this is one of the oddest-sounding. At least to our ears.
But this is not some cryptic piece of vague nonsense designed to sound deep.
It’s actually very practical. And it has to do with how you and I work as human beings.
As St. Ephrem tells us, the key to understanding what Jesus is saying is that this is all one thought, and that “This is like ‘let the one who has ears listen.’”
That is, what we hear, what we take in matters. Why?
What we hear, what we take in is cumulative. It adds up within us. Whatever it is, whether good or bad, it will add to the pile of that same thing that is already within us.
If we’re hearing things that make us afraid? That will add to the pile of things within us that we’re afraid of.
If we’re taking in things that make us angry? That will add to the pile of things within us that we’re angry about.
That is what “To the one who has, more will be given” is all about. The things we take in add up. But that’s not the whole story.
Like St. Ephrem said, this is all one thought. “To the one who has, more will be given,” cannot be separated from “and from the one who has not, even what he thinks he has will be taken away.” Which means what?
It means that when you and I are adding to one pile of things within us, the other stuff within us doesn’t just sit there. It starts to fade away.
Because the stuff within us (whether it’s our emotions, our spiritual well-being, our knowledge, whatever) is not static. It’s either growing or it’s fading.
And you and I have only so much bandwith, we only have so many spoons. We can only grow one thing at a time. Whatever we’re not growing? It’s going to be fading.
If you’ve ever wondered why getting a puppy and all the time that that a new puppy takes (both the fun stuff and the needful things like training and housebreaking) helps you deal with your grief over the death of your old dog? This is why.
So, if we’re hearing the word of God? That will add to the pile of things within us that bring us peace and strength. And the things within us that don’t bring us peace and strength will start to fade.
If we’re taking in the good things of God? That will add to the pile of things within us that we’re joyful about. And the things within us that we’re not joyful about will fade.
But it all turns on what we’re hearing, on what we’re taking in. Because that is what will be adding up within us.
Which is why Jesus is telling us – “Take care, then, how you hear.”
Today’s Readings
