The heart is a mystery.
Its strength, derived from its simple beats that pump the blood throughout the body to make it function to the blood pumping to our brains to allow our minds to think. Sometimes, even a little too much. And in the mechanical ways our bodies function, we are able to celebrate in happiness, jump in rejoice, walk with confidence, breathe with life, and laugh in joy, along with so much more!
Its weaknesses, derived from the endless, swaying emotions of the human heart, causing heartbreak, anxiety, pains in which often times, we want to leave untouched and unnoticed allow us to experience brokenness and sorrow.
But have we ever thought about how strengths and weaknesses come together? In the same ways my heart allows me to rejoice and at times feel sorrow, in the Lord, I find myself standing in the middle where strengths and weaknesses comes together…
When I am weak and broken, I just want to crawl into my bed and curdle in comfort, but above my comfort…above my own embrace, our Father cradles me in an embrace that I have yet to discover completely. And slowly, the pain and tears stop and what I begin to feel is Warmth as my companion.
When I am hurt and want to give up, falling down on my knees in complete submission, our Father turns my submission away from nothingness, which seemingly begins to feel empty… and in my tears and hopelessness, I suddenly find myself, falling on my knees in an internal worship and living adoration.
When I’m in pain and my head begins to feel like an overloaded express of different alleyways and VIA rails with endless and unknown destinations, the Lord takes over as the Conductor and simplifies the complexities, leading them all towards one destination… The Heart. His Sacred Heart.
Throughout this weekend, I’ve found myself being challenged with my heart. How can I trust? How can I have hope? How do I do this when I can’t help, but carry a deep sorrow? The answers came one by one.
- “The spiritual equivalent of sorrow is peace. And in peace, there are no emotions – there is FAITH.” (Tito Mike Almojuela)
- “If the heart is SINCERE, feelings of emptiness and dryness will be refreshed.” (Ricardo Canlas)
- “Tears are prayers of the soul; it washes away the mud of the heart.” (Ricardo Canlas)
- “Suffering means God is trying to make adjustments.” (Ricardo Canlas)
In all honesty, the heart cannot be explained in one blog post/ reflection. Allowing every part of our beings to function, there is much to be written about it. But what I have come to know is this: above all things, the heart allows us to live. And in living, something is in the works; God is in the works, and in my weaknesses, He is adjusting a Perfect Fit in all of my being. If I can’t bring myself to open my heart and trust, the only one I can trust with no hesitation is God. And in this trust, I can take comfort that He is taking care of me. I have nothing to fear.
God is PERFECT.
God is Love.
And perfect love casts out all fear.
The heart is beautiful.
In its functions, I am simply able to BE.
TO BE is beautiful as much as it is beautiful to be honest and sincere and persevere.
In sincerity, emptiness and dryness is cast out and as a result, there is peace.
PEACE is beautiful… and PEACE IS WHERE I WANT TO BUILD MY HOME, FULL of LOVE.
“I give thanks to God always for you because of the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him with all speech and all knowledge — even as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you — so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ; who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
(1 Corinthians 1: 4-9)
ALL OF THIS… IT ALL COMES FROM THE HEART, LEADING US TO FAITH.
If home is where the heart is, then I want to rest my heart in His Sacred Heart, where sorrow meets peace, and compassion sows love.
“Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I consecrate my entire self to the Most Holy Love of Your Two Hearts. I wish to make reparation for all the sins of the world, including my own. I offer these things for the love of the hearts of Jesus and Mary.
I will keep my mind on beauty and turn my thoughts from evil things. I will hold my temper and bear the mistakes of others with love and a forgiving heart. I will admit when I am wrong and ask others to forgive me. I will not show off, but remain humble. I will offer up all my sufferings, sickness and hurts. I will seek God’s Will, not my own. I will show appreciation for the kindness, the blessings that I receive, and thank God for all things. I will do everything in my life for love of God. And, I will love others, as God has loved me.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, through the intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, receive the offering and consecration I now make of myself to You. Keep me faithful unto death. Bring me one day to the happy home in heaven. I desire to live forever with God the Father and the Most Holy Spirit and You my Jesus, together with Your Most Immaculate Mother. AMEN.”