Where is your Heart?

Today’s Gospel Text: "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

22 "The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light; 23 but if your eye is not sound, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! Matt 6:19-23

Reflection: Oh! The human heart! In the physical sense, who can move it except through surgery or by accident and yet, all things are possible with the human heart.

The heart can move with compassion

The heart could be moved with pity

The heart could be gripped by fear

The heart could be become hardened and stony

The heart could skip a beat in moments of shock, surprises or excitement

The heart loves and can ache

The heart can be in great pain over the loss of a loved one

O the power of the human heart, which is the seat of every emotion; it is able to move and work not just physically but also emotionally.

One of the qualities of the human heart that can be detrimental for our salvation is that of possessing things and even accumulating or hoarding.

We do that because we feel that we will be able to make much out of life or do it for the sake of security which we feel when we hoard things.

It is these very thing that Jesus is warning us against, concerning hoarding of treasures: “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (vs. 21)

Our hearts sometimes can be so set on treasures that we may even forget every aspect of human relationships. 

The worse is when that treasure has been earned by us through hard work, then we feel that we have every right to it, even forgetting God who has given us the ability to earn.  (cfr. Dt. 8:18)

On the other hand, a man can have the abundance of wealth and riches without having his heart set on them, though it is rare. But God can make what is impossible with man possible with his help (cfr. Mt. 19:26, Mk.10:27, Lk. 18:27)   

Prayer:  “Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments!  Wealth and riches are in his house; and his righteousness endures forever. Ps 112: 1, 3

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Hardened Heart

Today’s Gospel Text:  Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Beth-sa'ida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. 47 And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48 And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out; 50 for they all saw him, and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; have no fear." 51 And he got into the boat with them and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, 52 for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened. Mark 6:45-52

Reflection: What’s so big about this problem of a hardened heart and is it in relationship to only understanding the way of God, as in the case of the disciples?

“For they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were HARDENED.” (vs. 52)

Suppose a situation when there is major crime committed and all the new paper come out with headlines flashing and likewise on T.V. and other media sources flashing it all along with no respite.  They keep appealing to the consciences of people about such a crime besides seeking to find solution.

In such a situation you have many becoming wise so as to come out with solutions to match the situation but what happens after some days have passed, things are back to normal.

In their hardness everyone has forgotten the situation and life goes on as usual till a next major crime occurs in public or unless the same media rakes it up. 

What I am referring here is one of the worst forms of hardening, the consciences are alive for a moment because the media has made it sensational and has raked up emotions.  Otherwise there may be plenty of other crimes which may be much more serious in nature but where the media may be least bothered.

Hardening of the heart is a serious issue which all must reflect on and check if they have such a heart which is not in keeping with what God will.  The worst part of this hardening is that, for a while, we get so involved in the process  and then after a while forget the whole issue.

When scripture refers to hardened heart it means a heart that is not attuned to God and his ways and thus is not able to be God's instrument of true love.

It is not possible to change this heart on our own but if we acknowledge our problem then we can turn to God for help to transform it and in keeping with his new covenantal promise he will do it: 

“A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will take out of your flesh the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.  And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances.”  Ezek 36:26-27

Prayer: Lord I surrender my hardened heart to you so that I may have a new one.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Ownership

Today’s Gospel Text: And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" 3 He answered them, "What did Moses command you?" 4 They said, "Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to put her away." 5 But Jesus said to them, "For your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. 6 But from the beginning of creation, 'God made them male and female.' 7 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, 8 and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two but one flesh. 9 What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder." 10 And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. 11 And he said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another, commits adultery against her; 12 and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery." 13 And they were bringing children to him, that he might touch them; and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw it he was indignant, and said to them, "Let the children come to me, do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." 16 And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands upon them. Mark 10:2-16

Reflection: Garbage generated in his own house is equally a man’s property just as much as precious gold kept in safe custody by him.

One will be disposed off as rubbish while the other could be preserved for posterity. One could be treated with disdain while the other could be treated with great care and concern.

Ever since the advent of the Marxist concept of 'ownership of goods and properties', there has been a certain look of disdain on this concept of ownership and this destructive heresy has been carried on to the sphere of family by certain women rights group and feminist. 

Ownership of one another is not a bad word but can be a beautiful relationship in an hostile world which also preserves the values of right relationships and ideal families; for instance, a man preserving it through sustenance and caring and the woman though her care and filial love.  Jealousy manifested in the right way can be an important ingredient in such a relationship of ownership.

This ownership is carried on with children, from parent and is always a clear message of precaution to society not to tread or envy what belongs to someone else. It is a message to treat with respect the goods and valuables of others; a message embedded deep in the conscience of every human being and not to be censored by them.

It carries the values of society forward and gives society a stable existence that is lasting.

If not then we could have a society where just as commodities and money change hands so too there could be the constant change which depreciates the value of such commodities. 

We could see it happening in relationships that are not based on sound values, including the value of ownership.

Prayer: Lord, you who consider us as your own through baptism, help us to value and respect the relationships which you have ordained for humans in order to preserve them in your love.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Take Mary Home

Today’s Gospel Text: So the soldiers did this. But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Mag'dalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" 27 Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. John 19:25-27

Reflection: No disciples at the cross except John and only the women, where did they go at this crucial moment when any human being waiting to depart would want them more.

Indeed, it was a crucial moment and at the same time a terrifying moment, because an innocent was killed in the most treacherous way, ever known to man.  

Who would want to stand next to a man who has been alleged to have committed one of the most grievous crimes? Who would like to be blacklisted, with the all powerful authorities bent on snuffing out a life that has been a threat to their ambitions and goals?

If it were only the Jewish authorities that were the cause of the injustice to Jesus and his companions then they could have gone in appeal to the pagan Roman authorities.

But it was not to be so, for even the Romans would want to cater to the Jewish sensitivities, which represented by the Jewish authorities. These Jewish authorities could abuse their position in getting a motley group to support their nefarious end.

In such circumstances the presence of the three Mary's and the beloved disciple at the foot of the cross was rather a bold step on their part, made possible with their love and absolute trust in their master, now crucified. It made them persist in being there at the moment of his ignoble death.

At the cross  new relationships are established, because it is a parting moment: "Woman, behold, your son!" (vs. 26)

It was like saying, woman you have the first say, God has blessed you with a free will to choose again, whether my word or your choice, if you accept him and the responsibility of discipling my disciple then I will announce my next plan.

Then he announces plan two, addressed to his beloved dedicated disciple: "Behold, your mother!" (vs. 27a)

Accepted, it meant taking Mary home with him: “And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.” (vs. 27b)

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for the gift of Mary, who not only said yes to bring you in this world as our savior, but also said yes to adopt us as her own. May we through her many sorrows find salvation.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

How to be Happy?

Scripture/Bible: Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesare'a Philip'pi, he asked his disciples, "Who do men say that the Son of man is?" 14 And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Eli'jah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16 Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Matt 16:13-19

Reflection:  Who does not want to be happy and blessed?

I believe that all people draw their happiness from some relationships or the other:

Some are happy because they relate with a lot of wealth and property, some are happy because they relate with their hoarded wealth and bank balance, some are happy because they have access to the powerful men in positions of power, some are happy because they hold positions of power and authority, some are happy because they have found the partner of their dreams or have parents, brothers, sisters or friends who care.  Some are happy on account of their pets.

Our happiness cannot be in isolation, except in situation when one is in love with oneself and relates only to the self. It is dependent heavily on the relationship we live and hold on to.  The key thing about this relationship is that they animate our lives and it is as if they speak to us.

In the gospel text Jesus speaks about a happiness or blessed state and yet it could only be the beginning of one’s life journey: "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.” (vs.17)

If only humanity learns to relate with the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, then they would be blessed and happy, because, He the almighty God does communicate to us the truth and the intricacies of life, even eternal life and thus we shall be happy.

This was Jesus’ ultimate purpose in coming into this world and offering himself as a living sacrifice; so that we could be reconciled to our ultimate source of life and happiness and live our life in union with God our Father. The apostle Peter was only an example, the fruit of his work.

Prayer: “Lord you choose to make known to us the great riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in us, the hope of glory, our sure happiness. (cfr. Col 1:27)

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us