The need and necessity of taking the great things into ones heart

Gospel Thoughts

Advent Season : 4th Week - Wednesday

GOSPEL - Lk 1:57-66

First Reading - Mal 3:1-4, 23-24

The need and necessity of taking the great things into ones heart

*All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, “What, then, will this child be?*

*1) Difference between Heart and Mind*

Heart and Mind are the two important faculties of Human beings

Both are necessary to have a deeper and balanced view of something in our day today life. 

Mind works on reason and logic. Where as heart work on feelings and emotions. 

In any situation Heart has preference over the mind. There are common expressions which highlight the importance of the heart 

Usually people say, here is a person with Heart, but we hardly hear about a person with mind. 

*2)  The distance between Mind and Heart*

*The longest journey you will ever take is the 18 inches from your head to your heart.” —Andrew Bennett*

The above quote tells us how difficult to travel from mind to Heart. 

Its easy to reason out something. But it is difficult to bring the matter to the heart and to feel for it.

One who really covers the distance from mind to heart will be a great person. Such a person is called the person with heart, a human person, and a person who has a golden heart.

*3) Taking something into heart means Total involvement*

The event of the birth of John the Baptist and His naming ceremony became a special event 

All the relatives and neighbors not only came but they rejoiced over the incident and they took this event and the joy of the event to their heart. 

This becomes possible only when the person is fully involved in the event and the event becomes very dear to him/her

So taking something into heart means the total involvement of the person into the situation

*4) A person who takes something into his/her heart can't remain silent*

The capacity of the heart is so great, once something goes there, it does not allow the person to remain silent

It always motivates the person to do something in a practical level. 

So persons of heart are those who do something at the practical level, which in turn help many others 

*5) Jesus was the person of Heart*

In the Gospel there are many references to the heart of Jesus and goes about a person who has a heart more than anything else.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:29

My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. Mark 8:2

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. John 14:1

So there are many references to the heart than the mind. 

Because heart has a special place, when it comes to knowing something and doing at the practical level.

*6) Mary pondered the things in her heart*

Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. Luke 2:19

Mother Mary took all those things which the mind could not understand

By taking her those things into her heart, she accepted the will of God, and gradually understood God's plan for her.

*7) Taking something to heart is the sign of total acceptance*

By taking all those things Mary accepted God's will and she offered herself to God's service. 

This is also the sign of humility and allowing oneself for the service of others 

*8) We are called upon to become the persons of Heart*

When a person is referred as the person of heart, the humane quality of the person is highlighted

The quality of compassion, feeling for the other, sympathy, being one with the suffering, identifying oneself with those who are undergoing various crisis and other problems

Jesus being the person of Heart, healed many sick people, had compassion for the people and even cried at the death of Lazarus and also for the destruction of Jerusalem

*9) Am I a person of the Heart? 

Is my mind dominating too much, which does not allow me to become to person of the heart? 

Am I struck in the journey from mind to heart? 

Christianity primarily is the religion of heart, which enables one to serve the least and the lost one 

Christmas is the event of the celebration of the Heart ❤️, which is the symbol of Love - celebration of the Heart/Love of the Father 

*Am I a person of Heart???*

*God bless you and your family. Praying you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*