The Intricacies of the Heart

We are in the Lenten season, and it's the time of year of sacrifice, and fasting and doing or giving up something. I have come to appreciate Lent as of recently because of what it allows us to do and prepare for- Easter, and uniting more with Jesus' passion and growing closer to Him. I remember learning more about Lent in Confirmation class and it wasn't a very enjoyable time of the year, with winter and the cold weather in session still, on top of having everything feel like a dry desert in the spiritual life in order to mimic Jesus' 40 days in the desert. The lay out of the churches are bare and dry to the bone, usually with a hint of purple and a water jug that is empty to symbolize various things when it comes to the spiritual life. Back in high school for Confirmation, seeing images like these wasn't very inspiring and on top of school work and the work load of being a student or on a sports team, having to do something for Lent wasn't very inspiring or fun.

I went to an evening Mass for Ash Wednesday, and the church became full to the brim rather quickly. Once again, the memories of daily mass at this church a year ago brought back reflections of what things looked like for me, and how things were. I saw how the church was displayed for Lent, and the water jug that I mentioned earlier brought back memories of that Confirmation class. I understood the meaning in that we need to empty ourselves, and reform our old ways. As the verse goes, 'Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord, your God.' (Prophet Joel 2:12) Lent is about transforming our hearts, not just about giving something up, but how whatever we are doing is making us pray more, more generous, and ultimately drawing us closer to God.

So many things come to my mind when speaking of this water jug, and our hearts. Only 2 weeks ago we had Valentine's Day, but I'm not speaking of a Valentine's heart that is perfectly shaped, since we are broken people with real hearts. The priest who gave the Ash Wednesday Mass used the message of Pope Francis for his homily, and he talked about taking out the dust from our lives, our hearts. Ashes we are and they are on our foreheads as a reminder, but the dust is also in other places that we need to get rid of. I thought that was a very powerful message and viewpoint to start out this season.

I recently finished a good spiritual book called Jesus the Bridegroom:The greatest Love Story Ever Told. It was very insightful, and part of the book the author went into further detail of the Woman at the Well, and the significance of it, one that I had never heard of before. I think most people are at least familiar with the story, but I did not know that it was a sign of betrothal for a Jewish man in that time to wait or meet a woman at a well in terms of getting married. Jesus was in that position with this woman in order to lead her to the truth, and to lead her to Him. Her water jug she had as well but everything she was doing in her life,  her 5 former relationships with men and another who were not her husbands were not fulfilling her. I happen to have this image of the Woman at the Well and Jesus there speaking truth into her life on my bedroom wall with the words on the image from St. Augustine, 'Jesus thirsts that we may thirst for Him.' How relevant it is to each of us, especially during this holy time of Lent, to deepen our hearts, minds, and souls.

Our hearts are not only spiritual but also physical. For the past week or two, I've been walking past chalked hearts on campus from a Science class learning about the structure, function and shape of this fist shaped muscle. Every time I walk past it, I say a little prayer for my dear nephew inside my dear sister's womb who has his a heart condition that we are all praying for. Our hearts speak to us, as I know the Holy Spirit has spoken and guided my own heart in ways that can be hard to describe. Right now I am reading a book called To the Heart of the Matter by the founder of 40 days for Life, Shawn Carney. It's such an enriching and insightful read that talks about abortion, but how we can be witnesses to life and the pro-life cause just in our daily actions and lives. During this Lenten season, I want to make time to pray outside Planned Parenthood with 40 days, as lives and hearts our changed through our efforts and prayers.

There are moments that speak to our hearts in ways that are not always serious but rather fun, lively and full of God's beauty, like an awe filled sunset, or making jewelry with your dear sisters and laughing and talking like sisters do. May there be joy in our hearts this season on Lent, and to continue to draw closer to our Lord.