The act of listening seems like a simple thing, but should not be taken for granted. Jesus features it heavily in the parable of the seeds. Not just listening once, but listening in such a way that something additional happens. The best-case-scenario is someone who listens so deeply that God’s Word takes root in their hearts. The rest are only listening half-heartedly. Hearing but thinking about other things. Hearing but not letting the Word take root. Being present for the Word, but immediately losing it when the message ends. These are great lessons for us, because it makes clear (and Jesus clarified!) what our task is: to hear, and to take the Word to heart.