The heart occupies a significant role in the anatomy of human existence. It is the central pump and powerhouse that circulates the blood. The heart provides oxygen and energy to all the cells. As once a hospital chaplain, I experienced medical teams shocking the heart to bring patients back to life—repeated CPR to resuscitate the heart. I felt disappointment in the room when such efforts failed to save such an individual. Everyone walked away sad and empty at such moments. Once the heart ceases to function, human life packs up. This is the heart in anatomy or cardiology. Imagine how God feels with the human heart that spiritually packs up.
Christ talks about the spiritual heart in this weekend's gospel and the importance of keeping the heart clean. Mark’s gospel narrates, “He summoned the crowd again and said to them, "Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person, but the things that come out from within are what defile. "From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within, and they defile."
The phrase, “From within people, from their hearts,” reveals the importance and crucial centrality of the heart in our spiritual lives. The heart is at the core of our relationship with God as the force for circulating oxygen and energy for breath and survival. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says of the heart, “God immediately touches and directly moves the heart of man. He has placed in man a longing for truth and goodness that only he can satisfy. The promises of "eternal life" respond, beyond all hope, to this desire” (#2002). Every human heart intrinsically longs for truth and goodness which only God can satisfy. Just as we take healthy food and drinks to nourish our bodies, so God’s word nourishes our hearts. A well-nourished heart is aware of the demands of the sacred.
In the spiritual life, the heart:
Supplies positive emotions such as peace, love, gratitude, joy, patience, forgiveness, justice, mercy, and truth. The heart flushes evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, and folly.
Enhances intuition such as wisdom and proper knowledge. The heart prompts the desires of the soul.
Generates interconnectedness by revealing the essential unity and coexistence among other humans. The heart seeks connection with other hearts.
Sustains a deeper relationship with God as the creator of all things. The spiritual heart is considered the key to fulfillment. As Saint Augustine puts it, “For Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee. Lord, teach me to know and understand which of these should be first, to call on Thee, or to praise Thee; and likewise, to know Thee, or to call upon Thee.”
Jesus provides a diagnosis to the problems of the Pharisees who confront him with the issue of handwashing, and purification of cups, jugs, and kettles, about keeping the traditions of their elders. They ask him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?” He answers, “This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” We must keep the heart in good shape to be spiritually healthy. We must keep the heart close to God to function effectively, otherwise, the cleansing of hands and other external rituals make little or no meaning.
Moses spoke to the Israelites, to hear the statutes and decrees of the Lord and to observe those decrees in their hearts. The word “hear” is one letter “t” short of being the same as the word “heart.” The word “ear” is two letters “h” and “t” short of being the same as the word “heart.” It shows the importance of listening to get to the heart. Saint Paul puts it this way, “Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save you.” The message is that hearing God’s word and doing God’s will are the keys to sustaining the heart. The heart naturally seeks goodness, love, peace, and joy. Our hearts speak to us. Every heart desires to stay alive.
I believe you know what it means in medical terms to sign a DNR (do-not-resuscitate), a medical order that instructs healthcare providers not to perform CPR on a patient if their heart stops beating or breathing. Can someone sign a DNR to say do not resuscitate my heart if it stops functioning spiritually? Can evil, wickedness, hatred, jealousy, greed, and avarice, clog the heart? Do you wonder why some hearts feel nothing anymore? Jesus says we can still do spiritual CPR. He strongly desires to resuscitate every heart. Jesus speaks to our hearts. He renews and revives us through the sacraments.
Let us pray with the Psalms, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and sustain in me a willing spirit" (Ps. 51:10-12). God will always welcome a humble, contrite heart.
Readings: 1st- Deut. 4:1-2, 6-8; 2nd- Jas 1:17-18, 21-22, 27; Gospel- Mk. 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
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