Depravity and Redemption of Human Heart

In the Gospel of Mark 7: 14-23 Jesus provides a fundamental insight into human nature. He states the source/cause of sin.  Jesus asserts that nothing from outside can defile man, nothing from outside can cause sin.  Nothing external, material, circumstantial can cause sin. Circumstances, situations, peoples or things cannot be the source of human moral failure.

This assertion of Jesus is in sharp contrast to the popular assumption in our contemporary time that tends to search for the cause of sin outside of humanity. We all have the tendency to blame our circumstances, situations, conditions, and people for our moral failure. We tend to blame everybody and everything except ourselves. Why do I commit sins? Why do I do terrible things? – “It is because of my environment” “My place of work”  “The people I live with” “The nature of my job”. Circumstances, peoples, and things may lure, tempt and dispose us to commit sin. External realities may provide occasions for sins, reduce our defenses, cloud our judgment, even blind us, but they cannot cause us to sin. We decide in the depth of our hearts whether we want to commit sin or not.

Psychology may have influenced many people to blame their  childhood experiences for their moral ineptitude. Recently, a LRA commander  Dominic Ongwen  was indicted in ICC in Hague. In his defense, he argued that he was a victim not a villain. According to him, he was adopted as a teenager and forced to commit horrendous atrocities. But the ICC chief prosecutor  Fatou Bensouda  argued that Dominic was charged not for the crimes he committed as a teenager but for the crimes he deliberately committed as an adult. Implicit in the argument of the ICC chief prosecutor is the recognition of the fact that despite the horrible experiences Dominic Ongwen endured as a teenager, he could still choose a different path as a responsible adult. Therefore, he is culpable of the heinous crimes he committed. We have several examples of former child soldiers who have become scholars, activists, artists, musicians etc.

The cause of sin can be found in the depravity of human heart. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man (Mark 7: 21-23). The bible describes human heart as sick, evil, depraved and deceitful. The human heart is baleful and baneful. The heart of man is full of evil and there is madness in their hearts (Eccl 9:3). The human heart is treacherous and tortuous. More tortuous is the heart of man who can understand it? (Jer 17:3). The Lord saw how great was man’s wickedness on earth and how no desire that his heart conceived was ever anything but evil (Gen 6:5).

Genocide, wars, atrocities, injustice, corruptions, terrorisms have their root cause in the corrupt human heart. The most vicious crimes are first conceived in the human heart. Evil begins as an idea, a thought and moves into the realm of decision or consent. The moment human heart consents to evil, evil is born. It is blameworthy even if it is not executed. Nobody is born a dictator or terrorist.  Hitler, Lenin, Stalin,  Pol Pot  all decided from the depth of their hearts to commit heinous atrocities. David carefully plotted the death of Uriah in his heart (2 Sam 11: 14-27). Jezebel with an acerbic malice planned the death of Naboth (1 Kgs 21: 1-16). And Herodias burning with hatred, gleefully demanded the head of John the Baptist (Matt 14: 6-12). We are not different from these men and women who planned evil in their hearts. It rings eerily true that our hearts generate evil thoughts; we plan evil and sometimes execute evil. We all have the predisposition, tendency to commit sin.

If the human heart is the source of sins and evil in the world, then we are invited to embark on an inward journey –to probe, scrutinize, and search our hearts. From the warp and woof of our experience, this exercise is neither easy nor desirable. Many people are afraid to probe their hearts because they are afraid they may not like what they see. The first task of a Christian is to identify his sins, acknowledge his sinfulness and take responsibility for his immoral decisions and actions. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar and his word is not in us (Jn 1:10). I know my transgressions and my sin is always before me (Ps 51:3). Without an acknowledgement of our culpability and true repentance, our religious practices – prayer, fasting, and almsgiving will be ineffectual and futile. They will become a mere show, a travesty, a charade, a window-dressing. Rend your hearts and not your garments (Joel 2:3).  Circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and do not be stubborn any longer (Deut 10:16).

                             
REDEMPTION OF HUMAN HEART

Human heart is not beyond redemption. Our lord Jesus brought the message of repentance which is another name for change of heart. In what ways can the human heart be redeemed?

The first step toward the redemption of human heart is change of heart. Conversion is a conscious and deliberate effort to renounce evil and embrace good. Conversion is replacement of the old, vicious heart with new, pure heart. God promises to give us a new heart at our conversion. A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh (Ez 36: 26). We all need heart ‘transplant’. Our cold, stony, evil heart must be replaced by pure, meek, docile heart. “The human heart is heavy and hardened. God must give man a new heart. Conversion is first of all a work of the grace of God who makes our hearts return to him… It is in discovering the greatness of God’s love that our heart is shaken by the horror and weight of sin and begins to fear offending God by sin and being separated from him. The human heart is converted by looking upon him whom our sins have pierced” (CCC 1432).

We will certainly need a good prayer life to obtain a new heart. Without a consistent prayer life, change of heart is simply unattainable. Change of heart is primarily the work of God, the activity of gratuitous grace in our lives. But if we do not pray how do we access the necessary graces to effect conversion? The psalmist prays: A pure heart create for me O Lord. Put a steadfast spirit within me (Ps 51: 12).

Since evil or sin begins with a thought, a suggestion in the heart, we need to carefully choose our thoughts and master our minds. This may sound very strange and unthinkable to many people. We often believe that we are at the mercy of barrage of thoughts that invades our minds at every moment. But it is within our power to control our thoughts, to choose our thoughts, to dwell on positive inspiring thoughts and reject evil or impure thoughts; we can elect to dwell on innovative, creative, positive thoughts. Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever inspires, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things (Phil 4: 8). If it is impossible to choose our thoughts, the Lord will not command it. The Just God will not command the impossible. We can always guard our hearts against evil and wicked thoughts. It requires constant discipline and patience. It is not a day’s job. We are what we think. Our external realities are only reflection of our inner disposition. James Allen says “as a man thinketh so he is”.

Redemption of human heart requires some moments of silence, of introspection, of examination of conscience. We all need some moments alone when we can look inward and encounter ourselves in the depth of our hearts.  Soul searching, introspection requires some silence and calm. The cacophony of contemporary world may make silence almost undesirable or impossible. But a committed Christian will always take some time to be alone with himself; “to be alone with the Alone in the depth of his heart”.

Lastly, the Word of God is indispensable in the formation and redemption of human heart.  The Word of God forms, informs and enlightens the human heart. In the depths of human heart, the Lord sows the seed of his Word. We need to make our hearts a fertile soil for the Word of God. Needless to say that we need to find time for daily reading and meditation on the Word of God. “The Church forcefully and specifically exhorts all the Christian faithful to learn the surpassing knowledge of Jesus Christ, by frequent reading of the divine Scriptures. “Ignorance of the Scripture is ignorance of Christ”” (CCC 133).

Varieties of Spiritual Gifts 1Cor 12:4-11

There are varieties of spiritual gifts in the Church. There are different kinds of spiritual gifts for different kinds of people. God desires pluriformity and not uniformity. All the spiritual gifts are equal in importance. None is superior to another. For example, the gift of working miracles is not necessarily superior to the gift of counselling. There is no reason to exaggerate the importance of some gifts and depreciate others. Though it is true that a particular spiritual gift may be more relevant in a particular place and at a particular time. Every human being is endowed with some gifts. The spiritual gifts are not meant for the privileged few. Everybody without exception receives something. Some have more. Some have less. But everybody has something. We all have an obligation to discover our gifts and use them wisely and fruitfully. All spiritual gifts are from the same Spirit, the same Lord and the same God. God inspires them all. The spiritual gifts coming from the Lord are unmerited. They are absolutely gratuitous. There is nothing we could have done to merit them. Therefore, there is no place for pride and arrogance in the heart of a true Christian. What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? (1Cor 4:7). We cannot despise others who do not have the gifts we exercise. Neither there is any justification for feeling superior to those who have less. Spiritual gifts are not the only measure of holiness. It is possible to enjoy some great spiritual gifts and still be in danger of losing one’s soul. We must not be envious of those who have the gifts we do not have. St Bonaventure says envy of the spiritual gifts of another is a sin against the Holy Spirit. We have to be content and grateful for what we have. And put our own gifts into good use. If we cannot be faithful in little things, the Lord will not entrust greater things to us (Cf. Lk 16:10). The spiritual gifts are lavished on us for the common good, the spread of the Gospel, the establishment and expansion of the Kingdom of God, the growth of the Church- the body of Christ. The spiritual gifts are not for personal gain. You have received freely, give freely (Matt 10:8). We do not use our spiritual gifts merely to gain influence, leverage, recognition and cheap popularity. As the stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gifts he has received to serve one another (1Pet 4:10). In the end, we will render an account of our use or abuse of our spiritual gifts.

Defeat of Israel and Spiritual Battles 1Samuel 4: 1-11

The Israelites engaged the Philistines in a ferocious war. They went to battle against the Philistines with confidence. They were sure of victory. They were rash, audacious and foolhardy. To their greatest surprise, they were roundly defeated by the Philistines. Four thousand Israelites were slaughtered. This first defeat should have provided the Israelites an opportunity for soul searching- an opportunity to discover the root cause of their defeat. Instead the Israelites requested for the ark of the covenant. When the ark of the covenant arrived in their camp, they rejoiced exultantly. They were overjoyed. Even the Philistines were afraid and dismayed. However, the Philistines summoned courage. They mustered all their determination and strength. The Philistines defeated the Israelites again. Over thirty thousand Israelites were killed. The Israelites were utterly dejected and devastated. Even the ark of the covenant could not save them. The Israelites lost the battles because they were presumptious. They trusted in themselves- their strength and skills. And they were heavily defeated. They requested for the ark of the covenant, without fulfilling their own part of the covenant. They believed that the God they would not serve faithfully will somehow save them because of the ark of the covenant. They not only lost the battles, the ark of the covenant was captured and stolen. Our own battle as Christians is not against the Philistines. Our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against wicked spirits in high places ( Eph 6:12). It will be presumptious for a Christian to enter battle against principalities and powers without having recourse to God - the Lord of hosts. It is not uncommon to see Christians using sacramentals (e.g. scapular, rosary) as charms or talisman while they make no effort to reform their lives. The sacramentals cannot save those whose hearts are far from God. The sacramentals should rather be the external signs of interior dispostion to grace. If we love God and our neighbour, live a virtuous life, obey God’s commandments, do His will, we can be certain of God’s protection and victory over our spiritual enemies. But if we ignore Him and disobey his laws, we may inadvertently disqualify ourselves from God’s shield. God helps those who help themselves.

Hannah's Perseverance

Hannah is one of the iconic figures in the bible. Her name brings to mind the virtues of prayer, persistence, perseverance and faithfulness to one’s vows to God. She was childless for many years. She had prayed for many years. She had waited and waited for many years without a child. However, Hanna did not give up or cave in to societal pressures and oppression. She never lost hope. She hoped against hope. She did not quit. She did not abandon God or her faith. In her anxiety and distress, she did what most people would not do. She went into the temple, and poured her soul before the Lord. The Psalmist says “I waited, I waited for the Lord. He stooped down to me. He heard my cry” (Ps 40:1). Hanna waited and waited for the Lord. The Lord stooped down to her and heard her cry. She conceived and gave birth to a son. She dedicated her only child to God in the temple. The Lord has stupendous plans for us (Cf. Jer 29:11). And the Lord has a loving desire and unfailing power to fulfil His plans in our lives. If only we can wait on Him like Hannah. If the Lord’s plan tarries. We should wait patiently. For surely it will be fulfilled (Cf. Hab 2:3). We wait. We wait in hope and expectation. We do not wait in doubts and despair. But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles. They shall run and not be weary and they shall walk and not faint(Is 40:31).

Epiphany of the Lord 2016

  The Feast of Epiphany is a celebration of the manifestation of the Lord to the whole world. Jesus Christ the light of the world has appeared to illumine the darkness that envelops the world. Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you (Is 60:1). Only what is hidden requires a manifestation or an unveiling. The Messiah who has remained unknown has finally been made known. God who is invisible has now become visible. God who is so high above is now so low and lowly. God who dwells in unapproachable light has now become the light of the nations.

 The manifestation of the Lord took place in two stages.  First, the Messiah was revealed to the people of Israel – the Jews.  They were the first people to see and welcome the Saviour. The Israelites were represented by the shepherds (Cf. Lk 2: 8-20). Second, the Messiah was revealed to the Gentiles- the rest of humanity. The Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel (Eph 3:6). The Messiah is born to save the whole world and not just the Israelites. The Gentiles were represented by the Magi.

 The journey of the Wise Men from the East is a figure of Christian journey to God. Christian life is essentially a journey to God. Christian spirituality according to St Bonaventure is a Journey of the mind to God. In fact, earthly life is a journey to God. This journey begins on the day we were born and ends on the day we draw our last breath. The Christian journey is a journey of the whole life time. The journey may be long or short. It may also be fraught with many challenges- obstacles from within and from without. The road is difficult and narrow (Cf. Matt 7:14).

 The Wise Men were guided in their journey to the infant King by a Star. We will also need a star- a guide in our journey to God. Our Star and guide is Jesus. No one comes to the Father except through me (Jn 14:6). When the Wise Men saw the star they rejoiced exceedingly. When we find Jesus, our joy will have no bounds. You show me the path of life.  In your presence there is fullness of joy (Ps 16:11). They saw the infant King and fell down and worshipped Him. We too have to worship the Lord in holy splendor (Cf. Ps 29:2). Worship the Lord your God and serve only Him (Lk 4:8). They opened their treasures and offered Him gifts. Let us open our lips and offer him the gift of praise. Let us open our hearts and offer him the gift of love. Let us offer our whole life as a gift to God. We must never appear before the Lord empty-handed (Cf. Deut 16:16)
Epiphany of the Lord