Change the Direction of Your Heart

2 Samuel 12: 1-7a, 10-17

Thomas Keating in Invitation to Love wrote this about the meaning of repent...

We come now to the heart of the problem of the human condition. Jesus addressed this problem head-on in the gospel. What was his first word when beginning his ministry? "Repent." To repent is not to take on afflictive penances like fasting, vigils, flagellation or whatever else appeals. It means to change the direction in which you are looking for happiness.

How profound to think about repentance from that perspective..."to change the direction in which you are looking for happiness."  Through a story told by Nathan David realizes that he must change the direction in which he is looking for happiness. He is filled with such remorse that he refuses to eat, clothes himself in sackcloth, and sleeps on the gound. While sacrificing those things that bring us comfort might appear to be repentent, the change must really occur within the heart.

Thus again today we have the well known Psalm 51. The emphasis today cuts right to the core...Create a clean heart in me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me." A clean heart, a heart that desires what is good and pure. A heart that puts love for God above personal pleasures ans satisfactions. The psalm goes on...Give me back the joy of your salvation, and a willing spirit sustain in me.

In order to change the direction of your heart it takes more than just saying the words. It takes a willingness to be on guard to be vigilant, to be aware of the former urgings of the heart. Praying while keeping in sight the large crucifix in our church is something that reminds me which direction love originates.

For God so loved the world...that he sent his only begotten son to be with us. David could not hold on to the image of the crucifix, but he did have the love of God in his heart. God sent Nathan to get the attention of David through a simple story.

Throughout the public life of Jesus he told stories, parables, as his primary method of teaching. People can relate to stories because we can visualize the events and our emotions follow accordingly.
So Nathan's story was visualized by David which ignited deep emotion within his heart.

What story or image helps you sustain your willingness to maintain a clean heart?

Original picture: A person with both arms stretched up to the sky.

I chose this image because humility and surrender lead us to true repentance.

This kaleidoscope image incorporates both the darkness of sin and the brightness of a clean heart.

Create in me a clean heart, O God. 

Your word is a light for my path.

 

Under the Fig Tree

Have you ever been surprised by being singled out in a crowd of people? I have.

Several years ago I was attending a local conference where Thomas Keating was a speaker. I have been very fond of his writings for some time. He reminds me of how God the Father might appear. If I had to create an earthly image of him. His demeanor is that of a loving, caring father. We would all cherish such an endearing father figure. He is a Catholic monk.

While in the lobby during a break I noticed a group of people gathered around him, just I have imagined Jesus had people gathered around him. I walked up to join the group and something quite astonishing happened. It was so unusual that I am sure I will never forget it. He immediately turned toward me and said, "I don't think I have met you yet." He reached out his hand as I introduced my self to him. He was so totally present; not just to the group, but to me personally.

I was reminded of this story while reading today's gospel from John 1: 43-51. The scene is Jesus decides to go to Galilee where he recruits Philip. Philip is so excited that he runs to invite Nathaniel to join them too. Today Philip would post on Facebook or send a Twitter announcement.
Nathaniel was reluctant at first saying, "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" But Philip being a diligent friend says look just "Come and see". Philip was saying in effect humor me and if this is not for you fine; you can go your own way.

But what happens next to Nathaniel totally takes him by surprise. Jesus addresses him as if he already knows him well. "Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him." Imagine how Nathaniel must have felt. He did not know Jesus and yet Jesus greets him with conviction about who he is...an honest child of Israel. In Nathaniel there is no deceptiveness. Jesus saw right into the very soul of Nathaniel.

Jesus had seen Nathaniel under the fig tree...maybe in the shadows...maybe half behind the trunk. Perhaps he was curious, but did not want to get too close or mingle with the crowd.

Perhaps Jesus had already chosen Nathaniel at first sight; knowing how clean was his heart. We do not know. Jesus shares in just a few words an amazing revelation..."You will see greater  things than this."
I can only imagine how stunned Nathaniel must have been. A holy day dawned on Nathaniel under the fig tree that day. He was forever a changed man.
Thomas Keating will hold a dear place in my heart for a long time as a reminder of how Jesus sees others.

I chose the original image of a modern jazz dance because Nathaniel's life will never be the same. He became a new man that day Under the Fig Tree.