Thursday 12th January 2023. Read Hebrews 3:7-14, Ps. 95:6-11, Mark 1:40-45
“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, as on the day of testing in the wilderness.” (Hebrews 3:7-8)
A person who does not care about others, and lives as if nothing matters to him or her cannot claim to be a Christian. The defining characteristic of a Christian, a person who is really born again is love.
To care for others regardless of their identity (friend or foe), is the hallmark of being a child of God. We were all enemies of God and He could have decided to harden his heart towards us, “but God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us… For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life?” (Romans 5:8-10)
Jesus came to teach the world a lesson: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” (Luke 6:27). To be merciful is to have a heart that is concerned about the salvation of the sinner rather than their outright destruction.
To be merciful is to have a heart of pity for others, a heart that feels the pain of others, a heart that wants to see them well again, strong, healthy, and back to the light. In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus, “moved with pity” stretched out his hand, and touched a leper. Jesus didn’t have a hardened heart.
The book of Hebrews admonishes us: “Today when you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts… take care; brethren lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart.” (Hebrews 3:8-13).
If you do not wish people well regardless of who they are or what they have done to you, it is a sign that you are not yet born again. If you still doubt what God can do, then you need to pray for God to break your heart of stone and give you a believing heart; a heart of flesh.
Let us pray: Heavenly Father, break any form of hardness in my heart. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Thursday of week 1 in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Hebrews 3:7-14, Ps. 95:6-11, Mark 1:40-45).
@Rev. Fr. Evaristus Abu
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