Do you have your ears on???

In Matthew 13:31-33 and 44-52 Jesus gives us the Kingdom Parables. Word and story pictures of the 'kingdom of heaven'. He talks about patience, slow growth, great sacrifice, total focus, and getting on with the job. He reminds us that we are simply to be casting the net out there and leave the judging and choosing to him. I suspect that is why we continue to claim to lack an understanding of this kingdom. It is not that Jesus has failed to tell us all about it or that Scripture doesn't give us enough information, but that we are not necessarily comfortable with what we are hearing. We like growth. We like success...big success. We like to make sure that the good people and the right people are part of our church and faith community. We like to have our cake and eat it too...as we live our lives as disciples but without too much sacrifice or discomfort. Maybe that is why Jesus says several times in his teaching, "Listen, then, if you have ears!"

So do you have your ears on???