The hearts

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes but the Lord pondereth the hearts - Proverbs 21:2

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Dear brothers and sisters, we rarely find honesty, sincerity and purity of the heart in this time of our modern days. Many times we find people or even ourselves give a hand to others, offer helps, or lend others people whatever. Everyone who sees it will say that it is a commendable act, he or she is good, it surely bring praise, and people will say it is surely be blessed. Dear brothers and sisters, this can also be possibly our own experience. We give and we help and we know that it will bring great award. It will bring praise without wanting to know, wanting to inspect, to introspect the motivation lay behind. 

We can say to others that I am telling the truth or others also can say that they are telling the truth and so the people will easily trust. We have to beware that no one knows what is in our heart but God knows. Manipulation in its negative sense will never be blessed. Never be deceitful, don't trick others. It is our dear God who knows perfectly the "texture of our heart, the interior of our heart". God will bless us immediately when He knows we are doing good.

God will always be happy knowing his children are doing good. Doing good in the eyes of people is possibly always good but not always good for our dear God! He wants us to always be honest, sincere, and pure in our heart. We need to inspect our heart all the time and it will always lead our step to heavenly blessings and more to our eternal salvation. Blessings for us all!

Reflection by Ceisy NW

Probare seipsum | To examine oneself

Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup 

(1 Cor 11:28). 

As we prepare to approach the Lord's table, Saint Paul's words echo in our hearts. This self-examination is not meant to discourage us, but to draw us deeper into communion with Christ.

In the Catholic tradition, we prepare ourselves for the sacrament of penance through a prayerful examination of conscience. This sacred practice invites us to reflect honestly on our thoughts, words, and deeds. We can root this examination in the Ten Commandments, which teach us how to love God and neighbor, and in the Beatitudes, where Jesus shows us the path to true blessedness.

Paul himself understood the importance of a clear conscience. He could say with confidence: "I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day" (Acts 23:1), and he urged Timothy: "The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and sincere faith" (1 Tim 1:5). Like Paul, we must strive for integrity before God and others.

Let us ask ourselves: Are my actions, words, and thoughts aligned with God's will? How have my deeds impacted those around me—my family, my community? Have I loved as Christ commanded? As we read in John's Gospel, Jesus said: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another" (Jn 13:34).

We must be honest about our faults and failings, yet never forget that God is our merciful Father. As Paul reminds us: "But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world" (1 Cor 11:32). The Lord's discipline is an act of love, calling us back to Himself.

When we come to celebrate the Holy Eucharist, let us echo the words Jesus taught us to pray: "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us" (Mt 6:12). We cannot approach the altar with resentment in our hearts. We must forgive others as God has forgiven us, for "if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Mt 6:15).

In this way, we become true disciples, following Paul's exhortation: "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ" (1 Cor 11:1). May our examination of conscience lead us not to despair, but to conversion, gratitude, and deeper union with the Lord who gave Himself for us. 

Bible Reflection on 1 Corinthians 11: 27-34 by Fr. Joseph Trzebuniak SVD.

(Listen to podcast here)

Ad manducandum | To eat

For when the time comes to eat, each of you goes ahead with your own supper, and one goes hungry and another becomes drunk (1 Cor 11:21).

Dear friends in Christ Jesus, the early Christian community shared everything in common. We read about it in the Acts of the Apostles 4:32 –"And the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and of one soul; neither said any one of them that any of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common." At the same time, we can not say that they were perfect. They, too, had their shortcomings. In today's passage, St. Paul is reminding the Corinthians about their division, selfishness and indifference. It is true that they gathered together as one community to celebrate the Lord's Supper. Which is a really wonderful time of prayer, worship and communion.

The people used to bring along food and drinks from their home. When the time came to eat they ate alone without sharing it with others. There were also poor people who had no food. It was a very humiliating and painful experience for the poor who had nothing. The indifference and selfishness caused division among them rather than communion.

Dear friends, in our lives too, God is blessing us with a lot. Are we grateful to God and are we willing to share it with others? We all know that everything that we have is a gift from God. As long as we have them, let us be generous. It can be our time, energy, health, materials, money, knowledge, experiences etc. Let us not expect anything in return other than God's blessings. May God bless each one of you.

 

Bible Reflection on 1 Corinthians 11: 17-26 by Fr. George Joseph SVD.

(Listen to podcast here)