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Encountering Jesus is good for the heart
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By Mary Regina Morrell
©Catholic Online 2005
"If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves . . Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus . . ." Phil. 2:1-5
Like most people who work in an office, I have made an attempt to make my space comfortable for me, a reflection of what is important to me as a person and, of course, as a Christian.
Most of what fills my space are gifts from friends, making each item all the more meaningful. One such gift, which stands prominently on my desk, is a beautiful painting of Jesus with his Sacred Heart exposed. It is an unusual rendering, painted in soulful shades of sepia and tan. This touching image is a frequent inspiration to prayer and a powerful reminder of God's unceasing, unlimited love. It brings to mind the words of St. Bonaventure: "Who is there who would not love this wounded heart? Who would not love, in return, him who loves so much?"
Sadly, however, it must be acknowledged that, even among Christians, there are many who do not love Jesus or his wounded heart as they should because there are many who still do not really know the Christ who made such a profound sacrifice. To love the Lord means, necessarily, to love others. But there can be no real love of others when there is disrespect, callousness, selfishness or downright cruelty, and, very often, it is simply our words that reflect the real dearth of love in our hearts.
For those who live in a state of awareness, cognizant of the pain that we inflict on each other through fear or pride or ignorance, it is easy to become discouraged with life. It is easy to forget that while Jesus' heart was both formed in love and pierced with pain, it still carried a divine hope for his sinful, cherished people.
This hope should be ours as well.
Sages like the great Chinese philosopher Confucius, have taught, wisely, of the basic goodness of the human heart. Some 500 years before the birth of Christ, this great teacher wrote that, "To put the world right in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must first put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must first cultivate our personal life; we must first set our hearts right."
Who would say, given the state of our world and nation today, that these were not wise words?
For Christians, this setting our hearts right requires a transformation, a rebirth of our own hearts into the heart of Christ. We must believe, as Jesus modeled, that the world can then also be transformed through such hearts of love and compassion, and by our own adherence to the Gospel message so powerfully preached to us through the life, death and resurrection of our Lord.
The first step toward transformation requires a willing heart, the second requires that we come to truly know Jesus.
Consider making prayer and Scripture a part of your summer "experience" and you will be well on your way.
Contact
Diocese of Metuchen
http://www.diometuchen.org
NJ, US
Mary Regina Morrell - Associate Director, Office of Religious Education, 732 562.1990
mmorrell@diometuchen.org
Keywords
heart, Jesus, transformation, love
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