Monday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time
Every once in a while you meet a person you know is living the authentic life of a Christian. It isn’t so much what they do, but rather, the way they do it. Everything they do involves their “heart” and it’s always related to Love. It is certain they have something special and you are certain you want it! When I read today’s passages they all came together in a very specific way for me. By this I mean I am able to see clearly how a disciple lives a truly authentic life—from start to finish. It explains how the very heart of a Christian develops and what the life of that Christian looks like.
Today’s responsorial Psalm gives a beautiful image of exactly where our Christian life begins:
“… I have stilled and quieted my soul like a weaned child. Like a weaned child on its mother’s lap, so is my soul within me” (Ps 131:2). (Just allow yourself to stay with this verse for a while) There is such a deep peace and serenity in this image. This is a time of just being with God, allowing God’s love to wash over oneself. This is precisely where the life of a Christian begins. The heart is nurtured, sustained, and transformed by love just being in the presence of God. This Christian heart is set on God and the eyes are set on Jesus. The heart of the Christian allows the Holy Spirit to transform them. And their actions spring from, and become a pure expression of, the deep union with our Holy Trinitarian God. They go out into the world with a heart that has been changed by Love.
In the reading from the Book of Philippians St. Paul is speaking to his community about what this change of heart looks like in action: “Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but also everyone for those of others” (Phil 2:3-4). This gives me a glimpse of what the heart of a Christian looks like. However, even more important is what St. Paul says is the source of this deeply converted Christian heart: “If there is any encouragement in Christ, any solace in love, any participation in the Spirit, any compassion and mercy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing” (Phil 2:1-2). Again, the Holy Trinity! This community of Love—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—is very the source and foundation of the Christian heart. St. Paul is simply talking to his community about going back to the basics, never forgetting the Source of our grace, always remaining in the Presence.
Finally, in the passage from Luke’s Gospel Jesus is dining at the house of a prominent Pharisee. Jesus admonishes him not to invite those who are friends and relatives or those who can repay the favor (Lk 14:12). Jesus says to invite the poor, rejected, and helpless when holding a banquet (Lk 14:13). I hear Jesus talking about human motives—the human heart. This was not only oppositional to the culture and social standing of the Pharisees, but may even have seemed repulsive to this host and the other guests. I find it hard to be too critical of the Pharisees. After all, who among us does not do the same most of the time? But the call that lies here goes to one’s heart much more than to any individual action. What Jesus is commanding is a complete reversal of action that can only be accomplished by a person with a heart that has been deeply transformed through the Trinitarian love of God. That Christian will intuitively embrace the opportunity to be the enfleshment of Jesus Christ in that tiny part of the world in the particular way God intends in that particular circumstance. There are no hidden agendas, no resistance, and no expectation of anything in return. Even beyond this, that Christian is open to the grace necessary to embrace their countercultural call in the face of ridicule and rejection because through their transformed heart they will indiscriminately see the presence of God in each and every human person.
The Christian heart is cultivated, transformed, and sustained only through ongoing relationship—friendship with God. Compassion, mercy, justice, and generosity are expressions of Christian love that are “lived” in and through the power of Christ; the motivation behind them the purest love of God and neighbor. I pray for the desire to rest in God’s presence every single day. I pray my heart may grow into this way of living in the world—day by day and moment to moment—always present, always awake, and always ready to respond in love.
O Holy and Blessed Trinity, draw me into your community of Love.
Make me unable to resist your grace, your friendship.
Set my heart on only you.
As I live this day, make my way of being in the world
a pure and powerful expression of your love
With the Blessed Virgin Mary’s intercession,
In Jesus Holy name.
Amen.
-Gail Lyman