Years ago, I remember a wise woman saying, “Each time you have another child, your heart only becomes bigger.” Then she would say, “Our Lord’s love for us works the same way. Each time He fills our heart, our hearts only become larger.”
On that note, let us turn to today’s Gospel where we might catch a glimpse into Jesus’ heart and learn to give Him ours. On this occasion, Christ encounters a group of hostile Pharisees and a man with a withered hand. The day happens to be the Sabbath. Jesus proposes a question to his accusers.
They respond in silence.
Christ’s Response
I would like to focus on Christ’s response. “Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart, Jesus said to the man . . .” (NABRE, Mk 3:5). A quick Google search for the word grieve comes up with the meaning “to feel an intense sorrow.” What we have here then is the heart of the Son of God exposed. It is rare for the Gospels to directly reveal the emotions of the God-Man and even less so, when it’s in relation to people. But St. Mark chooses to spend a whole line showing Jesus’ heart. Why?
Through Scripture, the Holy Spirit wants to remind us that Our Lord has a heart like us and wants to meet us there. Jesus feels an intense sorrow in this scene because the hearts of His accusers do not want Him. One of Christ’s greatest sufferings in the agony of the Garden and on the Cross stemmed from Him knowing that many would still choose to reject His Heart even though He had suffered for them.
Let us not add to His suffering. Recently, I was meditating on the love of God. Not only did He choose to become like one of us, die on the Cross, and rise; but he also chose us to be one of His followers. But that is only the beginning. Not only does He want His executioners (who are all of us) to be His friends, He wants them to share the same Father. And get this, He wants to live this relationship within our hearts — quite literally.
Will We?
But will we let Him? Will we share our heart with Him? Let not the contempt of Goliath or the silence of the Pharisees in which we so often share, take us away from His heart. Every time we enter prayer or receive Him in the Eucharist, we have the chance to let Christ’s peace control our hearts. Let it.
Remember the words from our wise lady. “Each time He fills our heart, our hearts only become larger.” Without Him, our hearts are only like a withered hand. Today, as we finish here, let us say yes to His invitation. Mary, Queen of our hearts, bring us to your Son.
Such a beautiful reflection, and so well written. Thanks so much.
I’ve repeated the statement that each time God fills our hearts, our hearts grow larger. I love this and have created a mental image of my heart growing larger. I will find more ways to let God fill my heart. For example small acts of kindness, reading more about Hod, Jesus, the saints. I like this statement and imagery for sharing with children too. They can use art to show their hearts growing larger. Thank you.