7 February, Friday — The Truth in our Hearts

Friday of Week 4 in Ordinary Time

Heb 13:1-8
Mk 6:14-29

When he had heard him speak he was greatly perplexed, and yet he liked to listen to him.

The Christian life is not an easy life to live — we are called to live in a paradox, we are called to be selfless, and we are called to stand up against the popular culture we have right now. And there are definitely times where God’s call perplexes us because it is challenging us to live not how we want to live, but how we ought to live as brothers and sisters of Christ, as the heirs to the Heavenly Kingdom, as the sons and daughters of God.

We are perplexed because our heavenly Father has already written the Truth in our hearts. And even if we are perplexed, we like to listen because the message strikes a chord, after all, what we hear only makes us aware of what was already written in our hearts.

I think for the majority of the time, we already know if we are doing what is right or what is wrong. However, there are times when we already know we are doing wrong and yet, we try to find ways to make us feel that we are doing right. I am guilty of this as well. Sometimes, I would seek out valid excuses to justify my actions. Sometimes, I would talk to my friends to share my side of the story but in such a way that will make me look like I had no other choice. Sometimes, I would even engage priests in discussion because, hoping that he will give me some way to excuse my actions.

One excuse I often hear is that ‘God will understand’ why that person chose to act in a manner that is clearly against the teachings of Christ. This is merely another way to calm the perplexity felt.

Many of us are probably guilty of seeking out excuses for our actions because following the demands of the Gospel, the Truth that is written in our hearts, would require that we change our lives and stop doing the things we want to do. However, this will not change the Truth that we know. Living against the Truth only makes us uncomfortable.

Living against the Truth for a long time can make us forget what is the Truth. Let us live in a way where we don’t have to make excuses, and just try our best to live according to the Truth God has written in our hearts. And if we do not know the full Truth yet, let us seek it with genuine desire to know and understand, and not merely to discover another way to make an excuse.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Stephanie Villa)

Prayer: Dear God, I am in need of a lot of grace to be able to live out your call to my life. Please give me all the graces I need.

Thanksgiving: Lord God, thank you for Church as it is helping me see and understand the Truth that you have written in my heart.