The Ears in Heaven

A Japanese legend says a pious Buddhist monk died and went to heaven. He was taken on a sightseeing tour and gazed in wonder at the lovely mansions built of marble and gold and precious stones. It was all so beautiful, exactly as he pictured it, until he came to a large room that looked like a merchant’s shop. Lining the walls were shelves on which were piled and labeled what looked like dried mushrooms. On closer examination, he saw they were actually human ears. His guide explained that these were the ears of people who on earth went diligently to the temple, listened with pleasure to the teaching of the gods, yet, did nothing about what they heard. After death, they themselves went elsewhere, but only their ears made it to heaven. Our first reading from Isaiah gives us a listing of actions we are called to implement in our lives. Some of these active words include: sharing, sheltering, clothing, healing, vindicating, removal, and bestow. As you listen with your ears to the full context of the passage from Isaiah in today’s Eucharistic Liturgy, how will these be made visible in your life this coming week? Recall the legend above. It can help motivate you.
 
Msgr. Mike