The Introduction
How can we develop healthy hearts? First off, clear the decks of all that causes hearts to go rotten: lingering on past injuries, blaming others for who we are now, presuming ill intentions of others, judging according to well-worn prejudices. Unforgiveness has got to go, as well as any hint of self-righteousness.
Then, once our hearts are clean and fresh – I realise I’m glossing over some real hard work here like counselling, confession, grief work, and huge helpings of honesty – only then can we open our hearts to the good things they’re intended for. Things like the fruits of the Holy Spirit elsewhere listed as “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control”. (Galatians 5: 22 – 23) If we try to take good fruit in before we discharge any heart-rot we’ve built up over the years – well, you know how it works with apples. Start with a healed, new-born, and virtue will cling to us like butterflies on flowers. It may sound like an awful lot of work, but what will happen to our hearts if we don’t do it?
What kind of heart-work do you need to do to rid yourself of the damage of the past?
Don’t let anything keep you from the goodness God desires for you. Take your heart to a specialist: a priest, counsellor, spiritual director, someone who loves you. Let go of what binds you, and seek only goodness.
It’s who you are, not what you say and do, that counts. Your true being brims over into true words and deeds.
The Scripture (Luke 6: 41-42)
Jesus continued, “It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbour’s face and be oblivious to the ugly smirk on your own … Wipe that ugly smirk off your own face and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbour”.
The Story – Lessons Learned
A grandfather who lived with his grown son and his family made time each day to read a story to his grandchildren. Little by little as the five grandchildren grew and started to read on their own, they were no longer interested in Grandpa’s daily story sessions. That is, except for the youngest. Stephen, who had Down Syndrome and struggled to memorise the alphabet much less master the complexities of phonics. Well into primary school, Steve wanted Grandpa to read him a story, and his grandfather happily obliged.
Then one day, Grandpa had to have cataract surgery. At story hour, Steve brought a book, and said, “Grandpa, read me a story”. With a heavy heart, his grandfather replied, “Steve, I am so sorry but my eyes are bad so I can’t read you a story today”.
“Oh, that’s okay, Grandpa,” Steve said. “I’ll read you a story”. And with that, Steve opened the book and began, “Once upon a time …”
As the gospel tells us today, “When fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher”. Be mindful of the lessons your words and deeds impart.
The Reflection
In the Middle Ages a man was refining gold in a fire-heated pot on a street corner. A little child asked him what he was doing. He said he was removing the impurities that rose to the top as the ore melted. “How will you know when you’re done?” the child asked. “When I can see my face perfectly reflected in the gold,” the man said.
The Commissioning
Rejoice you are Golden Rule people.
We will pray unceasingly.
We will forgive generously.
We will live adventurously.
We will abandon anxiety.
We will share gracefully.
We will meet suffering compassionately.
We will love beyond limits.
And God will be your constant companion along the way.
Amen.
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