Thursday March 15, 2007

Thursday of the Third Week of Lent

March 15, 2007

“Oh, that today you would hear his voice: ‘Harden not your hearts’”.

Psalm 95:8
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If you would, make a fist right now. Think about the size of your fist. They say that the size of our fist is about the size of our heart. Whenever you make a fist or see a fist, whether it is a mad fist or a fist that declares victory or whatever kind of fist it is, think of the heart. And remember always to take good care of your fist, that is, your heart.



Harden not you heart, the Lord God says. Don’t become bitter, hypercritical, cynical, judgmental, small-mined, vindictive, merciless… A hardened heart is a heart that does not have room for God, others and you. It is closed off to grace and mercy and redemption. With a spin on the whole heart and fist analogy, a hardened heart is your fist that is closed and clenched tightly so that nothing can get in. It is impenetrable. It cannot give, either; because it has it has not received what wants to be given to it.



Extending out analogy of the fist as a sign of a hardened heart, we know that the fist does not need to remain a fist. All the clenching and closing off of the bitterness, judgmentalness, small-mindedness, mercilessness does not need to continue on in a whole way of life. We can begin to relax and open up our clenched fists. All the suffering, ways we have been disrespected and maltreated, unfairness can be freed by us to go to Jesus. Remember, if you think life is unfair just look at the cross of Jesus Christ. Jesus did not clinch his fist. He opened his hands and heart and body wide and cried out in his crucifixion, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.”



It is our choice. Clenched fist/hardened heart or open hands to freely give and receive. A hellish existence or the heavenly way. Hell is having a hardened heart where God, others, love, friendship and community are not allowed. It is the utter hopelessness of me. Heaven is all about having God, others, love friendship and community. It comes from having open hands; a heart that is willing to forgive and be forgiven without end.



How might your existence be hellish? Who is your heart hardened toward? Use all your heart, mind, body, soul and strength to move from clenched fists to open hands. The choice is to move from that hellish type of existence to the heavenly way. What is it going to be? Remember, if TODAY you hear his voice in these words you are NOW reading, harden not your heart.



Live the confronted life!

+Fr. John