All The Numbers

If our ears were but slightly more sensitive, we would be tuned into the chatter of rats. If our hearing ability were three times more powerful, we would be tuned into our own heartbeats. If five times more powerful we would hear what field mice were saying; seven times and we would hear what bats were saying. If our ears were exposed to all sound, the roar would be intolerable … deafening.

Scientists tell us that the deaf person who suddenly recovers the ability to hear is likely to find exposure to the world of sound a frightening experience. It takes time to learn how to interpret sounds — in other words, to learn how to listen. Most of us are born with the ability to hear, but the ability to listen requires conditioning. It is an art that we must develop ourselves.

In today’s Gospel Lesson (consisting of only six lines), Jesus says “Stay awake!” not once, not twice, but three times. We get…