The Disorder of Our Hearts

Readings 121325 

Something is badly wrong in our world.
We see violence.
We see dishonesty.
We see greed.
We see indifference.

But Scripture tells us—evil does not begin “out there.”
It begins in here.
In the disorder of our own hearts.

Elijah came with words like fire.
He called Israel back to God.
But many resisted.
They clung to their sins.
They clung to their idols.

Jesus says Elijah has already come—
in John the Baptist.
But the people did not recognize him.
They ignored his call.
They did to him whatever they pleased.
And Jesus himself would suffer the same fate.

Children show us what openness looks like.
They trust.
They listen.
They believe.
But as we grow older, something changes.
I see it in teenagers and young adults.
God tugs at their hearts.
Certain sins gnaw at them.
Habits stir a restlessness.
A call to conversion.

Yet so many forget.
So many ignore the truths God plants within.
The noise of the world.
The lure of comfort.
The fear of change.
All drown out the fire of God’s word.

The disorder in our world begins with the disorder in our hearts.
But there is hope.
The fire of God’s word still burns.
Christ still calls us to repentance.
To restoration.
To life.

Let us recover that childlike openness.
Let His Spirit reorder our hearts.
And when hearts are restored—
the world begins to change.
One flame at a time.

Prayer

Lord Jesus,
You are the fire that burns within.
You are the light that restores our hearts.

We confess the disorder within us.
We confess the sins we cling to.
We confess the idols we serve.

But we trust Your mercy.
We trust Your call.
We trust Your Spirit to make us new.

Restore our hearts, Lord.

And let Your flame burn in us—
so the world may see Your light.

Amen.

The Living Bridge of Promise - Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

 Readings 121225 

St. Albert the Great tells us:
God was present in Mary—
not only as in all creation,
but in a way beyond compare.
The Word dwelt in her
by corporal presence.

St. Elizabeth of the Trinity adds:
Mary was “forever seized upon,
forever held by God.”
The Word was given to her,
within her,
and is forever part of her.

Mary received the Word
in silence,
in faith,
in love.
She carries a deep understanding
of the mystery of God
as part of her.

Scripture bears witness:
Zechariah calls Zion to rejoice—
the Lord Himself will dwell among His people.
Revelation shows the woman clothed with the sun,
crowned with stars,
bearing the child who will rule the nations.
The psalm honors her—
the highest glory of our race.
Luke reveals her “yes”—
the handmaid who believed.

All these voices converge at Tepeyac.
Our Lady of Guadalupe appears radiant,
clothed in the sun,
standing upon the moon.
She speaks with tenderness:
“Am I not here, I who am your mother?”

In her presence,
nations are drawn together.
The lowly are lifted up.
The Kingdom of her Son shines forth.

Mary is the living bridge—
between promise and fulfillment,
between heaven and earth.
She reminds us:
salvation has come.
Christ dwells among us.

Like her,
let us recollect this mystery.
Let us rejoice.
The Word has made His home with us.

Prayer with Our Lady of Guadalupe

O Lady of Guadalupe,
Mother clothed with the sun,
you carried the Word of God in silence and faith.
You remind us that salvation has come,
that Christ dwells among His people.

Be with us in our lowliness.
Lift our hearts to rejoice in your Son.
Teach us to say “yes” as you did,
and to live as servants of the Lord.

Amen.