He stresses that all men’s shortcomings and sins are a product of what is deep within their hearts. All of us are guilty at times of convincing ourselves that our sin or addictive behaviors are the result of something or someone outside of us. It’s a problem that goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden. Adam, when questioned by God, blames Eve for his sin. Eve, in turn, blames the serpent for tricking her. We have a tendency to pass the buck, blaming our misbehavior on someone or something outside of ourselves.
Isn’t that what we do when we don’t take responsibility for our actions? When we’re angry, don’t we say things like, “I yelled at him because he cut me off” or “I lost my temper because I’m under a lot of stress?” And isn’t that what we did when we were lost to our addictions, compulsions, and unhealthy attachments? We weren’t the ones to blame, right? It was because of outside circumstances that caused us to give into our destructive addictions, right?
Of course, once we surrender our egos to God we begin to realize that it really is our hearts that dictate what we do, what we say, and how we act. The good news is that, while our hearts may be prone to committing evil, our Lord and Savior desires to purify them and draw us closer to Him. Every one of us is born with a heart that is broken and needs healing. The hope we have is for a spiritual heart transplant that only Jesus can do. Today, we are reminded to trust in the Lord, handing over our hearts daily so that He can mend them with His loving mercy.
Reflection Questions
- What sins or unhealthy behaviors did you blame on outside factors that really stemmed from within your own heart? What changed when you stopped blaming others and, instead, began taking responsibility for your actions and their consequences?
- What concrete step can you take today to hand your heart over to the Lord for healing?
Daily Mass Readings
First Reading: 1 Kings 10:1-10
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 37:5-6, 30-31, 39-40
Gospel: Mark 7:14-23
Reflection by Jeff R.