the only hope for the hardhearted
“If you disobey Me, not living according to the law I placed before you and not listening to the words of My servants the prophets, whom I send you constantly though you do not obey them...” —Jeremiah 26:4-5
At daily Mass, we have been reading from the prophet Jeremiah for about ten days. We will continue to read from Jeremiah for another week. Day after day, we read that God’s Word spoken through Jeremiah and almost all other prophets was not accepted. The hardness of the human heart is so great that even Jesus, the greatest Prophet, was not accepted in His native place (Mt 13:57). Even after His death on the cross and glorious resurrection, Jesus is not accepted. How hard can our hearts be!
In six days, we will celebrate Jesus’ Transfiguration, when God the Father from the overshadowing cloud of the Holy Spirit announced: “This is My beloved Son on Whom My favor rests. Listen to Him” (Mt 17:5). Initially, even the message of Jesus’ Transfiguration did not soften hardened hearts. Finally, at the first Christian Pentecost, the Holy Spirit did the amazing miracle of opening hardened hearts to Jesus. Jesus’ disciples listened to Him, and the Church was born.
God our Father, send the Holy Spirit to do the miracle of Pentecost so that we will listen to Jesus.
Prayer: Father, break open my hardened heart.
Promise: “But I pray to you, O Lord, for the time of Your favor, O God! In Your great kindness answer me with Your constant help.” ––Ps 69:14
Praise: During his recovery from a severe battlefield injury, St. Ignatius read extensively on the lives of the saints. He asked, “If the saints could do this, why not I?”
Reference:
Rescript: "In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for One Bread, One Body covering the period from June 1, 2020 through July 31, 2020. Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio September 18, 2019"
The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.