On the Nature of Hearts

St Sebastian was able to withstand whatever his enemies aimed at him.

His icon is a symbol of how we can endure what people say or do to us.

If our hearts are like stone then when someone says something hurtful we will react by bearing a grudge and nursing resentment for years, if not a whole lifetime.  Just as a stone that is scored will bear the mark for many, many years.

If our hearts are like water then we would react differently.  We would feel a few ripples  of bitterness or anger but pretty quickly we will recover our calmness. But there is sometimes a danger we will blow up a tempest.

Better, though, if our hearts are like air.  A slight breeze would be all that we would notice but this would not bother us overmuch.  However, hurricanes do happen.

Best of all is a heart like Jesus’ heart.  This is the heart of light.  No matter what anyone says or does to us we are not affected in our selves.  Just as objects pass through light, the light remains unwavering and unchanged in any way.

May we all endeavour to have hearts of light in all areas of our lives.

We can find the places where our hearts are still storing hurts.  It is when we get offended or put out or defensive.  When we are tempted to react or get angry.  We can learn to master these effects and in doing so we transfigure our hearts into light.  This has been the work of contemplatives and for centuries.  It is possible to do this in ordinary daily life, we do not have to retreat to a mountain top.  It is useful to find a quiet space each day or evening to consider our actions and thoughts and identify those that cause us unease. 

Often we need help to do this as, when we begin this work of honesty on our souls, the enemy finds all kinds of ingenious ways to prevent us from achieving it.  Therefore we must ask God to help us along the path.

Sometimes we feel so angry and upset we think we shall never find a way but again we just need to offer it up and ask for help, then let God do his work.

God can not only change our hearts but also the hearts of those who have hurt us. 

We just need to make the effort.

We just need to be conscious of ourselves.

Love and Peace


Constantina