Back to the heart

The story is told about a cat that distracted the guru and the worshippers, so he ordered it to be tied during their evening worship. After the guru died, the cat continued to be tied during the evening worship, and after the cat died, another cat was brought in to be tied during the evening worship. Years later, many treatises were written on the liturgical and theological significance of tying up a cat during evening worship.

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In today’s Gospel (Mk 7: 1-18, 14-15, 21-23), Jesus was questioned by the Pharisees for not observing Jewish purification traditions and customs. Jesus took this occasion to condemn the hypocrisy and dishonesty of the Pharisees, who were so diehard and strict when it came to the observance of human traditions, but disregarded God’s commandments. More than the cleansing of our hands must be the cleansing of our hearts.

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Some weeks ago, a man came to my office to tell me that he was not pleased with the way I said Mass on television. When I asked him why, his answer was that I did not hold the host high and long enough during the consecration. He went on to say that based on this observation of his, he had concluded that there was something terribly wrong with my priesthood! Wow. What could I say? I could only shake my head in disbelief with what I had heard. He meant well, he said, and he was just “concerned.” After he left, I spent some moments before the Blessed Sacrament, and just listened to what the Lord had to say. That, for me, was all that really mattered—not what people say, but what God says.

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We have well-meaning people around us, but the problem with them is that they mean well but they can be mean, very mean. Are you one of them? As in Jesus’ time, so also in our time: There are a lot of people who are judgmental, self-righteous, and spiritually proud.

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Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo was a simple, humble, and sincere person. For me, the highlight of his burial was the spontaneous outpouring of love and admiration for the man by the simple people whom he served and loved. All the extra ceremonies and programs to honor him were really just that—extra. In other words, the Filipino people would have shown their love and admiration for him, anyway, with or without those “fireworks.” All too often we hide a lot of our inconsistencies, insecurities, and even guilt behind our lip service and well-managed activities.

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It would have been good, and perhaps it will still be good, if all government officials just kept their silence and really listened to the message of Jesse Robredo’s life and death. Or really listened to and learned from what his family and the people on the streets said about him. May his death not be in vain. May his spirit live on, especially in our so-called public servants.

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Anything done with the heart, no matter how small or how difficult, is so fulfilling and meaningful. On the other hand, anything done for show or just for compliance, no matter how grand, is empty and meaningless. More than ever, let us put back and keep putting back the heart in whatever we do; otherwise, we will all end up cold, impersonal, uncaring, disinterested, and eventually disgruntled, unhappy, bored, and empty. Let us learn that there are things in life that cannot be and should not be controlled, managed, or manipulated.

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Let us all sincerely ask the Holy Spirit to remove from our hearts “evil thoughts,  unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, and folly,” which defile us. (Oops! Did you make a personal checklist?) Let us sincerely pray and work on the fruits of the Spirit, namely, love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, which should define us.

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I have prayed over a lot of sick people, but it is different when I am asked to pray over a fellow priest, especially older ones. It was a privilege and a humbling experience for me to minister to Msgr. Marcelino Montemayor and to Msgr. Jimmy Segun who showed sincere appreciation and gratitude after I visited them and prayed over them in their hospital room.  More than they know, it was I who received healing, blessing, and inspiration! Again, what is done with the heart far exceeds that which is done out of obligation, duty, tradition, or compliance.

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Sept. 8 is the birthday of Mama Mary. Let us honor her with our hearts. More than our devotions or lip service, let us remember that her greatest joy as Mother is that we her children truly listen and follow her Son. Let us consecrate to her our families, our country, and indeed, the whole world, for true peace and unity.

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A moment with the Lord:

Lord, help me not to forget the heart, and to remember that matters of the heart do matter. Amen.