And some seed fell on good soil, and when it grew,
it produced fruit a hundredfold."
After saying this, he called out,
"Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear."
As we read the psalms and prophets we often hear of those pagan idols, made of wood, stone, or medal, which have ears but cannot hear, and eyes which cannot feel. The Jews, who would create no image of the unimaginable God, loved to mock their enemies and the wooden insensibility of their idols.
Isaiah, however, reversed the mockery, turning it upon his own people. They too have eyes that do not see and ears that cannot hear.
Our secular society confidently believes it has evaded the problems of deafness and blindness with its scientific instruments. Our instruments see invisible colors, microscopic particles, and dark patches on the Sun's brilliant surface. They hear sounds above and below the range of human ears. They are developing instruments to smell and taste, not to mention artificially intelligent machines.
But many in our sophisticated society cannot see what their sciences tell them. They don't see the dynamic planet which generated human life becoming hostile to human beings. They cannot hear the grief of millions who flee from their homelands due to climate change. Their instruments, methods, and calculations may be more sophisticated than the idols of their ancestors, but they cannot read what their instruments tell them.
Wisdom comes from God; it is God's gift to those willing to receive it; to those willing to recognize and submit to the Lordship of God. Clever technologies will not save our ecosystem. Compassion for one another, sacrifice, and humility before the Lord will.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.