22ND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME B

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THE TRICKY HEART



When it is a matter of the heart, people are easily titillated. Just consider the explosive phenomenon of the latest onscreen love team “AlDub,” which started as an accidental meeting of two unsuspecting actors via a noon-time show. Now, the team enjoys the highest rating in tweets and Facebook views in the country.  Matters of the heart affect everyone!

The gospel today however reminds us that the heart does not radiate only cheesy, cute things. This symbol of great compassion and sacrifice can be the source of the worst that can flow from a human being: “evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly” (Mt. 7: 21-23).  Jesus is therefore telling us to take care of our heart, of the purity of our heart.

While the Jews believed that the purity of heart can come from the performance of external rituals, Jesus emphasizes that what is more crucial is the interior development in a person. You may perform all that the law requires but your heart can remain unmoved by God’s grace.

The first reading (James 1:17ff) shows us what the human heart really needs. It is the Word of God. We must welcome the word in order to be saved.  But true to the message of James, we are also told “Be doers of the word and not hearers only.”  A person with a pure heart not only ponders on the word of God.  Rather, he radiates kindness and charity to others, especially the poor and the needy around him.

Lord, I want my heart to be close to you. I want my heart to be open to you. Help me get out of my selfishness and be able to welcome your word.  Most importantly, help me to act on the word I receive by being kind and helpful to those in need of my presence and love today. Amen.

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