One Heart

Matthew Harrison

June 6, 2008
I stumbled across a wonderful meditation on the Sacred Heart of Jesus in a prayer book of mine (Handbook of Prayers, Midwest Theological Forum, sixth edition 2005). I wanted to share an excerpt with you:
"... note that God does not say: "In exchange for your own heart, I will give you a will of pure spirit." No, he gives us a heart, a human heart, like Christ's. I don't have one heart for loving God and another for loving people. I love Christ and the Father and the Holy Spirit and our Lady with the same heart with which I love my parents and my friends. I shall never tire of repeating this. We must be very human, for otherwise we cannot be divine ..."
- St. Josemaria Escriva, "Finding Peace in the Heart of Christ,"
Now read it over again. Slowly.
I don't have one heart for loving God and another for loving people.
What a humbling reminder.
How often are we absorbed in prayer, or at Mass, with the 'arms' of our heart outstretched... but as soon as we leave the Church, we fold the 'arms' of our heart?
I think of the couple that goes to Mass together, prayerfully participates, and then on the ride home yell and scream at each other.
Perhaps the next time we're about lose our patience with a family member, or gossip about a co-worker, we should recall that the same person who is engaging in this behaviour, that is me, 'I', is the same person who will come before God on Sunday to praise, to worship, to love, and to find consolation in.
I don't have one heart for loving God and another for loving people.