When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with a skin disease are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”
As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? What, then, did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. What, then, did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written,
‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’
“Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist, yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and violent people take it by force. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John came, and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. Let anyone with ears listen!
-Matthew 11:2-15 NRSV
Let Anyone With Ears Listen
I learned about listening from someone unexpected. When I was in Salina KS, I was the priest-in-residence living four days/week in a house with young teenage survivors of sex trafficking. The other three days I lived in an apartment above the fellowship hall of the Cathedral. The Cathedral is right downtown and, as in any downtown, there are homeless people. The premier spot for a homeless person to overnight was just below my apartment windows in a sheltered corner.
For several years, the person who occupied that spot every night was a man named Bill. Bill was a Vietnam veteran, had been married, and had several children with whom he was not in contact. He came to the Cathedral every weekday to receive food.
Bill and I used to talk with one another. He asked about my work, I learned about his life. I noticed that he was often on the bench outside the Cathedral and asked him about that. He said to me, “A lot of people are really busy. I sit on this bench. People know that I do. They come and sit with me, and I listen to them.”
One night, on the way to his spot, a car hit Bill. He was life-flighted to Wichita. There was enough time for his ex-wife to be with him, along with his children. He died from his injuries.
Upon hearing of his death, many people grieved. The local coffee shop, whose owner always gave Bill a cup of coffee, organized a gathering to remember him. That evening there was not one empty seat. In fact, people stood against the walls. A mic was set up on the small dais where local bands played and where poetry slams occurred. Every person who shared a memory talked about how Bill had listened to them. I came away from that gathering thinking that this was one of the holiest gatherings I had ever attended.
Advent is the season in which we are reminded to keep awake, to be ready, to listen. I wonder if someone has listened to you. I wonder to whom you listen.
The Rev. Susanne Methven
Chaplain, Saint Simeon’s Episcopal Home
Tulsa OK