Deuteronomy 7:6-11; Psalm 103; 1John 4:7-16; Matthew 11:25-30
Heart is the basic theme in today’s gospel reading. The Heart is an ancient concept in the Bible. It occurs over one thousand times in the Bible, making it the most common anthropological term in the Bible. It denotes a person’s center for both physical, emotional, intellectual, and moral activities. Sometimes it is used figuratively for any inaccessible thing. Basically, the heart connotes love or affection. The basic attitude of Jesus’ heart is one of unconditional love, not hatred. The image of Jesus’ sacred heart serves as a reminder of his limitless love, which inspires us to reciprocate that love. Since love is a two-way street, it should be returned.
In the first and second readings, we are shown that God’s love is the only factor in explaining why He selected Israel over other peoples. Yet each time, they refused to reciprocate that love. What sort of hearts did they possess? The Bible says in Ps.77:37 “their hearts were not truly with him, they were not faithful to his covenant”. Isaiah 29:13, says that “this people draw near with their mouth and honour me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me”. Thus, they never had a godly heart.
Today, what kind of heart do we have? For those with a troubled heart, Jesus says in the gospel come to me and I will give rest. For those with a wicked heart, men who have dedicated their hearts to occult covenants and devilish temples; those whose hearts are far from God and has no space for affection and love. Jesus says; “learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in hearts, and you will find rest for your souls”.
Jesus can renew our hearts and make it capable of loving God and our brothers and sisters. Today we pray for a spiritual heart transplantation in the words of Ezekiel 36:26 where God says “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make our hearts like unto thine!
LET US PRAY
Grant, we pray, almighty God, that we, who glory in the Heart of your beloved Son and recall the wonders of his love for us, may be made worthy to receive an overflowing measure of grace from that fount of heavenly gifts. Amen.
Fr. Daniel Evbotokhai
