-The homily from last weekend November 27 is in the library->
-The Scriptures for this coming Sunday are at usccb->
-I have the 5:30 PM Mass on Saturday, December 4 and the 11 AM Mass on Sunday, December 5.
I had my heart set on something!
Did you ever have your heart set on something.... like your mother's apple pie or an item on the menu at your favorite restaurant or an annual celebration or performance of a show? Every once in a while that expectation, that hope, or that longing is disappointed. They aren't making that dish this evening, that artist is not coming to town this Christmas, that dessert is not here this year because neither is grandma who made it.
Last Sunday, the first Sunday of Advent, I was wondering, inquiring or suggesting that the purpose or the spiritual task of Advent is the surrendering of our hearts, giving our hearts over to God. The place or location of God, God's kingdom may very well be called "the heart". This Sunday I am wondering with John the Baptist as to what our hearts are set upon. I don't think I have noticed before that in that expression "my heart is set upon" raises the question of what substance is my heart resting on, relying upon, set?
The Scriptures this Sunday and the season of advent and particularly the character of St. John the Baptist offer us two options. The first option is that our hearts are set upon the kingdom of God. The second option is that our hearts are set up the personal ego, the self.
This is an important question and the answer to the question is in the fruit that is our lives. The heart is very truly seen as the root, the source or today the stump out of which the branches and the fruit of our lives grow. Therefore the quality and character of our hearts, the place in which our hearts are rooted, set, will be revealed orcevidenced by the fruit that is our living.
So, upon what is your heart set? Look at your living. The Kingdom of God? Or the center of the universe- you?
6 comments:
On a conscious level, I want to believe that I try to set my heart upon the kingdom of God. Subconsciously?????
Of course I immediately answer the Kingdom of God. But upon reflection of myself from God's point of view....OUCH! lr
Why is it that we think in a kind of negative way when we reflect about our relationship with God?
God created us in his image.. He loves us and died for us, so there is no need to be afraid If whatever we do for Him we do it with love and we do not know how to do it better, why the OUCH!
Most of us want to set our heart upon the kingdom of God, that's one of the reasons we attend Church, no?. At the same time our ego, at times, is very strong because we are conditioned to find the pleasure in life rather than suffer the pain of the Cross.
We have to learn how to know ourselves the "real" ones the real "false-self" that we are. No until we know the real me, it will be difficult to set our hearts upon the Kingdom.
Prayer, Prayer and Prayer will open our heart
toward the reality, allowing us to transform ourselves more and more toward God's image.
Sorry for this long "sermon" It came straigh from the heart, no preparation at all.
God Bless. Gitana.
By "ouch" I meant that I can see how I live focused on me and not the Kingdom of God. lr
It hurts when we see who we really are is indeed? It does to me.
That is what I mean by self knowledge, for me this is the most important thing in my spiritual journey, get rid of the junk I have in my heart, and be myself, no pretending infront of others. :-)
Gitana
I have a daughter who is 21. Forever since the time she could understand a promise or something in the future she has never been disappointed. She always wakes up and says if the promised thing isn't there what else will/can take its place. She has the true spirit of trust and adventure, I both admire and envy this welcoming spirit. She always makes me smile. She is unafraid, trusting, and open.
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