𝑫𝑶 𝑬𝑽𝑬𝑹𝒀𝑻𝑯𝑰𝑵𝑮 𝑾𝑰𝑻𝑯 𝑳𝑶𝑽𝑬 | Sunday Reflection | 01 Sept 2024 with Fr. Jerry Orbos, SVD

The story is told about a woman who slipped on a ship and fell into the sea. Amidst the commotion, a man dived and went on to save the woman from drowning. When the “hero” was brought on board with all the people clapping, he was asked to make a speech, and the first thing he said was: “All I want to know is who pushed me?!”
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In today’s Gospel (Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23), Jesus tells the people about the importance of the heart. All our words and actions must be the result of what is really in our hearts. We are guilty of hypocrisy if there is no integrity in what we think, do, or say. God sees the heart. We must not disregard or belittle matters of the heart, for the heart matters.
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Nowadays, many people are not heart-driven, so to speak. People who are money-driven, purpose-driven, fame-driven are aplenty. What people want to see is results, no matter what and no matter how, easily setting aside morality and righteousness. Today, Jesus teaches us to go back to our hearts, and there find goodness, and find Him.
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I remember Mama telling us why she chose Papa from among her many suitors. Papa was not rich or handsome, but he had a good character. He was diligent, humble, and simple. He was dark-skinned. It was our maternal grandmother who told Mama: “Si Emoy agya amputi, balet amputi’y ugali. (Emoy is not fair-skinned, but his character is white).” It was the heart that won the day then. It is still the heart that will, even today.
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“Your lips may be sweet, but where is your heart?” This line from a song of long ago sums up the emptiness of words without the heart. True prayer is “mula sa puso, hindi mula sa nguso (from the heart, not from the lips).” Someone beautifully put it: “It is better to have a heart without words, than words without a heart.”
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“Please be careful with your heart.” I borrow this line from a song composed by Jose Mari Chan to remind us that