Matthew 5: 27-32

I came across an article on praising God and creation. It talked about the human and how complicated it is – 12 organs, 5 of which are vital: brain, lungs, liver, kidney, and heart. Of the five, the heart is the most important. If the heart is not working anymore, then the body is dead already.

Talking about heart, in our Spiritual life it is the most important as well. In the Gospel, the Lord says to watch our heart because if there is anger, lust, resentment, unforgiveness, our lives are affected, our relationships are affected, and the people around us are affected.

In a life that is not perfect and in the process we carry so many things in our hearts, what do we do?

1. The first reading tells us that God gives us the grace to face all the challenges in life. Pope Francis once gave a homily telling us three things that can be done: pray, be patient and be hopeful.
2. 70 x7. Jesus tells us that forgiveness is essential. When we forgive, we are the very first beneficiary because many sicknesses come from negative emotions; our disposition and emotions are affected because of unforgiveness and Spiritually, it is so hard to be united with God if there is unforgiveness.
3. Removing sin in our lives. Just look at what sin does in our lives. At first, it looks good. How can be something that looks good be bad? Then when we bite into it, it is one problem after the other.

Take care of our spiritual heart: prayers, Holy Communion, fasting, reading the scriptures, avoiding sin, helping people. It pays to have a healthy heart, physically and spiritually.