Paying Attention to God
One of my all-time favorite cartoons (I’ve used this before) was Dennis the Menace. One I’ll never forget has Dennis with his dog, Ruff, at his side, walking along with Margaret. Dennis is merrily pulling a red wagon, while Margaret, clutching her doll, is jabbering to the wind.
In the second panel, Dennis gives his dog Ruff a side-long glance while Margaret’s prattle continues. However, she is now speaking directly into Dennis’ ear.
The third scene shows Margaret wildly pelting Dennis with her doll saying, “Dennis, you’re not listening to me when I’m talking with you.”
The final panel has Dennis turning toward Margaret saying, “Margaret, I’m listening to you, it’s just that I’m not paying any attention.”
In the gospel today, Jesus seems to have everyone’s attention. The people are amazed because he “taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.” In other words, he’s not quoting Rabbi So-and-so, or religious authority what’s his name. He’s speaking on his own authority, with the authority of God.
Furthermore, the passage says that even the so-called “unclean spirits” are paying attention to Jesus, asking, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?” And in their case, they seem to know, even ahead of the people, precisely who Jesus is: “I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
At this the people ask one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.” And we’re told that Jesus’ “fame spread throughout the region.”
So, unlike Dennis the Menace, who’s paying no attention to what’s being said, everybody in today’s Gospel is definitely listening—and paying attention.
What about us? Are we listening? And, more importantly, are we paying attention? What does it take for what we hear really to sink in?
Many years ago, there was one time in an English class in which I had not paid attention, and evidently neither had anyone else, because the teacher announced, “OK, we’re having a surprise quiz.” Believe me, after that, I paid attention in that class.
When it comes to more ultimate things, like God or our eternal destiny, I found through much of my life, I simply breezed along, taking a lot of things for granted. There were certainly times when life shook me, such as when my father died suddenly when I was sixteen years old. Then, four years ago, when I was in the hospital at Christmas time with a serious infection, and they weren’t sure if I was going to live—well then, I was really paying attention. God was the most real he’d ever been, and he had my full attention.
I think this is rather normal. From what I’ve read, and from my experience of talking with a lot of people in all kinds of situations over the years, that seems to be how life works. We go about our life, making all kinds of plans, doing all sorts of things large and small, taking care of most of our needs, and not worrying so much about tomorrow. Until something happens to get our attention.
To be honest, I still become deaf, I still sin, I don’t always put God first, I don’t always do God’s will. But I remember that time when I really had to pay attention. And it wasn’t bad. It was actually OK to give God control of the universe. It felt pretty good to know I was in God’s hands—not mine. I didn’t have to worry so much about the fate of the country or the world. I often forget, but it sure felt good when God had my attention and I didn’t have to sweat the small stuff. I had learned that God loved me, even when I’m not so perfect.