IF TODAY YOU HEAR HIS VOICE HARDEN NOT YOUR HEART
On this First Friday in the month of October, we renew our monthly devotion to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Our alleluia verse today exhorts us: “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts” (Ps 95:8).
To harden the heart in biblical terms entails turning away from God and living solely by our human designs. The prophet Jeremiah captured it aptly: “But they will say, ‘It’s hopeless! For we are going to follow our own plans, and each of us will act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.” (Jer 18:12). When human beings harden their hearts against God, they are bound to reap the negative effects later.
Our first reading today shows the children of Israel expressing regrets for their past actions: “During the Babylonian captivity, the exiles prayed: “Justice is with the Lord, our God; and we today are flushed with shame, …” (Bar 1:15-22).
The Sacred Heart of Jesus in contrast embodies adherence to God. Dear friends, as we face God this morning and honor the Sacred, I pray that today and always, we will never harden our hearts to the word of God.
May our hearts be always meek and humble like the heart of Jesus. Have a lovely day.
Rev. Fr. Prof. Walter Ihejirika
