Unquenchable Heart Burn

~~~Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time ~~~
~~~ Jeremiah 20:7-9 ~~~Psalm 63 ~~~ Romans 12:1-2 ~~~
~~~ Matthew 16:21-27 ~~~

But then it becomes like fire burning in my heart...

Sooner or later all that God has placed within
 our living being bursts forth...
we have this longing like no other longing...
it is like a burning fire within that does not consume.
It is the longing to be once again united with our creator God.
As Jeremiah describes it...like a fire burning in my heart.
Notice he does not say this is a consuming fire.
It is the fire of a longing desire...consuming, unquenchable.
The is worse than any heart burn you have experienced after a rich meal.

Paul tells the Romans it takes a radical transformation
 of the mind before one can begin to discern the will of God.

...be transformed by the renewal of your mind,
that you may discern what is the will of God,
what is good and pleasing and perfect.

The will of God is only about
that which is good, pleasing, and perfect;
this is what burns within our heart.
God created us with the desire for all good things,
but we resist and loose our focus.

It is the burning within our heart
that causes the transformation of our mind.

...what can one give in exchange for his life? 

The closer we come to discerning the will of God
the more intense the burning within our heart will become.
Then and only then can we realize that there is
nothing we can give in exchange
for our life except to return it to God.
The only thing we could possibly give to God
 is our whole mind, body, and soul.

God gave us the greatest gift...our very existence.
He gives every breath we take.
He gives us every beat of our heart.
What does he ask in return?
He asks that we love him in return.
He asks us to put him above all else in our life.

He asks us to live our lives in such a manner
 that we may some day be completely reunited with him in heaven.

The burning within our heart is our longing
for all that is pleasing and good.
Our burning heart longs to be in his presence. 

We are Blessed to have this burning
desire within our hearts.
What would happen to us if we did not
have this longing to return to him?

Only He can quench your heart burn...let him.
~~~Peace~~~