How is Your Heart?

~~~ Jeremiah 7:23-28 ~~~ Psalm 95 ~~~ Luke 11:14-23 ~~~

We often act as if we d'not understand the message of scripture,
but the truth is we have permanently implanted ear plugs.
We have spiritual ear plugs that block us from
hearing the Words that are spoken to us.

These ear plugs are so efficient that they
are capable of even deafening our hearts.

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

How can we possibly hear his voice unless
we remove the ear plugs?
But first we must admit that our ear plugs exist.

It is critical that we remove the ear plugs.
If you clear your ears in order to hear more clearly
then you may just discover how much Jesus has done for you.

Why would you turn your back
 to the one who has done so much for you?
How could you walk away;
unless you have deafened yourself?

This is the nation that does not listen
to the voice of the LORD, its God,
or take correction.
Faithfulness has disappeared;
the word itself is banished from their speech.

These are harsh words...
God says we don't take correction, not even from him.

He accuses us of no longer being faithful.

But the crushing blow comes when we are convicted
of banishing his word from our speech.

Today I invite you to turn to scripture
 for every situation in your life.

We have a God who comes down to dwell with us.
A God who remains with us even when
we turn and walk the other way.
We have a God who wants us to listen for his voice.
A God who wants us to let his words soften our hearts.

A soft heart is pliable...a soft heart is more apt
 to have a greater capacity to love.

A hard heart is not capable of being anything more.
A hard heart is frozen in time forever.
A hard heart is as cold as stone.
A hard heart can have no mercy or compassion.

So the question for us is;
what kind of heart do you want to have?

Whoever is not with me is against me,
and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

Can you do this if you remain deaf with a hard heart?
I am guessing the answer must be 'no'.

Blessings come in hearing with a softened heart.

~~~Peace~~~

Hands and Hearts

~~~ Saint Agnes, Virgin and Martyr ~~~

~~~ Hebrews 7:1-3, 15-17 ~~~ Psalm 110 ~~~ Mark 3:1-6 ~~~

“Come up here before us.”

Jesus uses every opportunity as a time for teaching.

We are in the synagogue, Jesus is 

preaching, the Pharisees are present.

Jesus does not call up one of the elders to come forward;

he calls the man with the crippled hand.

This man came to hear the 'teacher' he had 

accepted the loss of his one hand. 

Imagine his surprise when Jesus 

calls him to come before the whole community.

Imagine his shock when Jesus asks him

 to stretch out his crippled hand.

Was he embarrassed? Was he afraid to be made

 fun of...to be humiliated?

Of course Jesus does none of those things 

instead Jesus heals this man's hand.

If you were given a choice between

 a withered hand with a humble heart

or perfect hands with a hard heart,

which would you chose?

Jesus took every occasion to get the Pharisees 

to open their eyes...to see that 

he was the Messiah.

The Pharisees instead refused to let their hearts be softened.

Physically they appeared to be perfect specimens of man,

but their hearts were more like the stones

they kicked aside on the road.

Their hard hearts kept them from having

 the ability to identify with Jesus.

For if your heart is hard you

 cannot feel compassion for another person.

A hard heart is impermeable, nothing can penetrate it.  

It is safe to say that not even love 

can truly be experienced when 

one has a hard heart.

I pray that if my heart ever becomes hardened

 that the grace of God will lead me to seek counsel.

The Pharisees had Jesus standing before them.

The Pharisees had Jesus to point out where they needed change.

They became even more resistant...their hearts became even harder.

What if they had actually been allowed to feel the pain 

in their chest of their hard heart?

Would that have made a difference?

We will never know, because God does not work that way.

Jesus gave them many reasons to change, 

but they kept their hearts hard

on purpose...

It was their choice.

Saint Agnes, pray for us.

May we receive Blessings so as 

to never have a hard heart.

~~~ Peace ~~~

Five Smooth Stones

1 Samuel 17:32-33, 37, 40-51

Often when we are familiar with a story from the Bible we tend to not listen as we should. Today's story of David and Goliath is one such story. Even children can tell you all about how David slew the giant with only one stone from his sling shot.

Most kids today, however, have not ever seen a sling shot much less tried to use one and accurately hit a moving target.

Today I came to a new realization about this familiar story.

When David left Saul to battle this 'giant' he refused to take the common battle gear. David had faith that the Lord was with him. David, as we know, selected 5 smooth stones from his shepherd's bag. This is a great lesson...when you go into battle use what you are most familiar with, this is the best plan of action.

We are all faced with situations in our own lives where our faith is challenged. What do we take into the battle? Yes, sometimes it can be a battle. David bravely took 5 stones, to be on the safe side. If today you had to pick 5 statements or actions to defend your beliefs what would you chose?
That is what these stones represent for me today. It is an invitation to look at my individual beliefs. Would I be willing to fight for these beliefs? I honestly cannot say for sure.

What 5 things do I really believe?

I believe God is always with me and that I live and breathe and move through him.

I believe in the Trinity.

I believe in the power of God's love.

I believe in the Eucharist.

I believe all things are possible with him.

Pause here and reflect on your beliefs. Write them down; things written seem to carry more weight.

The story holds another detail I would like to address; the single blow...the stone embedded itself in his (Goliath's) brow. In listening to some conversion stories it always amazes me the number of times the conversion was a direct result of study...knowledge. The intellect was the instrument with which the Holy Spirit was able to reach the person's soul.

David stunned the giant...he did not play around he went straight to the intellect. Goliath had already won the battle in his own mind. He was not prepared for the action David took against him.

Goliath was suffering from a 'hardened heart'. David attacked his intellect instead.

When we are faced with defending our faith it may be wise to come prepared to use the dual approach...heart and mind or intellect. Appeal to the heart, while speaking with knowledge.

This original photo was of a stone path.

This kaliedoscope image represents to me how David, through one stone, found courage

to exercise his Faith in God.

May we too be blessed with such deep Faith.