The Gospel of Matthew, chapter 7:6

John Henry (Cardinal) Newman, one of the finest theological minds of our age was beatified recently by Pope Benedict XVI. His motto was: “heart speaks to heart.” Newman knew well the great gift of the human mind, and he valued the pursuit of intellectual excellence all his life. Though he stored much in his mind and wrote many books, he took his motto to heart. So it is with today’s gospel passage where the Lord points out: that words are empty if our hearts are not in them.

Jesus is asking us to check up on our hearts. If vengeance, manipulation, hostility, and dishonesty pump through the human heart, all the laws in the world cannot provide the corrective. Many people, during the time of Jesus, suffered from a hardening of the spiritual arteries. All the paths to life seemed to be filled, unfortunately, with minute laws, impossible to fulfill. But an accumulation of laws, pursued with the best of intentions, is doomed to failure. They do not add up to a change of heart. How often we come across people who follow all the rules but their hearts are not in them. Rules, Jesus instructs us, will not add up to a whole-hearted, full-hearted person.

To be sure, laws must be followed and it is only after the faithful following of the ten commandments that we are equipped to enter into the heart of God’s wisdom which “eye has not seen, nor ear heard.” But, even the Ten Commandments must back –track to the state of the human heart which must set itself in God’s presence. Jesus is asking us to look deeper. He asks us to learn from Him for He is “meek and humble of heart.” He is asking us to take His message to heart; to feel it and not just to hear it.

Blessed John Henry Newman pointed out that there is a big difference between a notional assent to Jesus’ message and a real assent. A notional assent is an intellectual acknowledgement of the importance of the message. But, a real assent is a full-hearted acceptance of the message that leads to a change of heart.

“Blessed are the pure of heart for they shall see God.”

Fr. Hugh Duffy