Hard work and heart work

The story is told about a woman who slipped on a ship and fell into the sea. Amidst the commotion, a man dived and went on to save the woman from drowning. When the “hero” was brought on board with all the people clapping, he was asked to make a speech, and the first thing he said was: “All I want to know is who pushed me?!”

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In today’s Gospel (Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23), Jesus tells the people about the importance of the heart. All our words and actions must be the result of what is really in our hearts. We are guilty of hypocrisy if there is no integrity in what we think, do, or say. God sees the heart. We must not disregard or belittle matters of the heart, for the heart matters.

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Nowadays, many people are not heart-driven, so to speak. People who are money-driven, purpose-driven, fame-driven are aplenty. What people want to see is results, no matter what and no matter how, easily setting aside morality and righteousness. Today, Jesus teaches us to go back to our hearts, and there find goodness, and find Him.

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I remember Mama telling us why she chose Papa from among her many suitors. Papa was not rich or handsome, but he had a good character. He was diligent, humble, and simple. He was dark-skinned. It was our maternal grandmother who told Mama: “Si Emoy agya amputi, balet amputi’y ugali. (Emoy is not fair-skinned, but his character is white).” It was the heart that won the day then. It is still the heart that will, even today.

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“Your lips may be sweet, but where is your heart?” This line from a song of long ago sums up the emptiness of words without the heart. True prayer is “mula sa puso, hindi mula sa nguso (from the heart, not from the lips).” Someone beautifully put it: “It is better to have a heart without words, than words without a heart.”

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“Please be careful with your heart.” I borrow this line from a song composed by Jose Mari Chan to remind us that we have hearts, and that other people have hearts, too. Let us allow our hearts to have peace and have them nourished with silence, prayer, and quiet.

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As we journey to God’s heart, let us not conform to the values of this world that put a lot of emphasis on looks, productivity, performance, public opinion, and approval. Life is not a show. More rightly, for us, life is all about gaining God’s approval, in and out of season, with or without human applause. Thus, our song is not “I did it my way,” or “I did it as the world wanted me to,” but a firm but gentle “I did it His way.”

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For us who preach the Word of God, let us make sure that we preach Him, and not ourselves, and that we do not become clanging cymbals and noisy gongs. Neither should we become so focused on our titles and functions, and put so much focus on self-importance, popularity, ratings, and money. Oh, we still have so much to learn about true, humble, sincere service to the Lord and His people.

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Sharing with you the 10 commandments for seniors: “1. Thou shalt not complain; 2. Thou shalt not discuss your ailments even if asked; 3. Thou shalt not be argumentative, domineering, and sanctimonious; 4. Thou shalt not feel sorry for thyself; 5. Thou shalt not despairingly compare today with the ‘good old days’; 6. Thou shalt not find too much fault with younger people; 7. Thou shalt not let thyself grow sloppy in body, dress, or mind; 8. Thou shalt not expect constant attention from thy family; 9. Thou shalt not try to change people; 10. Thou shalt not insist being right at all times.”

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It is heartwarming to be known, remembered, or recognized by people for whatever reasons, but what touches me most is when they tell me that they were inspired and felt the presence of God through me, in spite of me. God encounter moments … Humbling heart moments.

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Looking back, I consider it a privilege to have been given the chance to do some “leg work” for the Lord all these years. But more than the hard work, it is the heart work that made it all worthwhile, and makes me look back with a smile. It is the heart that gives true peace, meaning, and joy in our lives.

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A moment with the Lord.

Lord, help us remember the importance of hard work and heart work. Amen.

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