Am I a heart hardened person?

Gospel Thoughts

*Ordinary Season : C Cycle : 6th Week - Tuesday*

*GOSPEL -  Mk 8:14-21*

*FIRST READING - Jas 1:12-18*

*Am I a heart hardened person?*

*1) Are your hearts hardened?*

In today's Gospel we have this direct question from Jesus to His disciples

It is not only applicable to the disciples of Jesus, but it is very much applicable to us 

So accordingly we need to reflect about my own life and specially about the situation of my heart 

*2) The danger of hardened heart*

As we know that the heart is the centre of our emotions, all our emotions starts from the heart 

If there is no emotions in our life, then we are just like machines

When our hearts become hard there is no place for emotions. 

Such a person loses the touch of the human feelings and the person does not respect any human feelings or emotions. 

Therefore a person whose heart is hard, can create lots of problem and others may suffer because of the hardness of the heart. 

*3) Why Jesus referred the hardness of the heart, when He spoke to his disciples?*

First of all they did not understand the danger of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.

Secondly they were still talking about the bread and not anything else 

Thirdly they could not perceive the power of Jesus even after seeing the miracle of feeding 4000 and 5000 people 

When the heart becomes hard, this is what happens. Carelessness, trusting in oneself and thinking only about the earthly food. 

Such an attitude is dangerous in ones life 

*4) Symptoms of Hard hearted person*

He/she is the one who does not feel for forgiveness

He/she is the one who thinks that he/she always right 

Hard hearted person, does not feel that others suffer because of me. He is dead to the feelings 

One who does not cry in any situation, does not feel anything when some one suffers or caught in a crisis etc 

*5) How is my Heart?* 

Have I become a hard hearted person? 

Do I feel for others when they suffer and cry? 

Is my heart cruel which inflicts pain on others? 

Or 

Is my heart a tender one, feels for another, understands another, loves another, cares for another, thinks for another, serves for another, ready to sacrifice for another??

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*