SEEING THEY DO NOT PERCEIVE

Amazing that so many people cannot see what is right in front of their nose.

 

Many people are simply not attentive, not mindful, not even very alert, maybe doing drugs or alcohol, just not receptive, just not paying attention, etc.  Just too, too busy.  Just too, too preoccupied.  Not open to new ideas.  They do not perceive.  So there is often no point to trying to tell them anything, except in parables.

 

A parable does not say much directly.  But because it is in the form of a story, it lingers longer in the mind, and maybe with reflection, the person can gain some insight.  A story is easier to understand than mere concepts.

 

“The reason I speak to them in parables is that ‘seeing they do not perceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand.’  With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that says: ‘You will indeed listen, but never understand, and you will indeed look, but never perceive.’”  Matthew 13:13-14

 

You may have noticed that this same idea about a lack of perception is repeated in each of the four books of the Gospel and also in Acts:  Matthew 13:13-14, Mark 4:12, Luke 8:10, John 12:40, and Acts 28:26-27.

 

So maybe being perceptive was important to whoever wrote those books?

 

A step in the right direction is to start being aware of your own awareness.

 

It helps if you turn off the TV (stop filling your mind with garbage) and stop clicking on your apps once in a while.

 

Some people will “never” perceive.  Yeah, with some people it is “never” or at least not anytime soon.

 

Luke 12:41

“Peter said, ‘Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?’”

 

Peter wants to know, but oddly enough Jesus does not give him an answer.  (Was it edited out?)  Perhaps Jesus did not reply because he thought that Peter was likely missing the point of the teaching by not listening closely??  Instead Peter was worried whether the teaching was a secret just for him.  His mind was focused on himself (is it always about you?), not on Jesus’ teaching.

 

What is it that people are thinking anyway?  A routine is always running in the background.  Much of it negative.  Much of it worry.  Much of it me, me, me.

 

Jesus spoke openly to everyone.  But not everyone was tuned in.

 

I think there are puzzles in the Bible, and this blog is dedicated to finding and solving them.  While the puzzles generally are not too obvious, I do believe that the authors wanted us to find and solve the puzzles and did not make them overly difficult to solve.  So the puzzles are “secrets” that are meant to be shared.  Why have puzzles?  Because the alertness and awareness that is gained by solving puzzles is important for one’s spiritual development.

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