The heart of man is a mystery: who can understand it? Man himself finds it difficult to understand himself, and this is the greatest challenge of life – that is, to understand oneself. What is certain is that the experiences we go through in life leave an impact on us. These experiences take two forms: there are those experiences that life takes us through, over which we have no control (our control lies in how we react to them), and there are those experiences that are within our control, where it depends on us whether we make them part of our lives or not.
How important it is for a person to choose good experiences where it depends on them, for these become part of them. An example of this is if a person tries drugs, even just once, their brain will tell them to do it again, and not just once. On the other hand, someone who has never touched drugs will find it very difficult for their brain to suggest trying them, and even if it does, they will be free to accept or reject this idea.
Therefore, how important it is to be careful about what we allow into our lives, because if it becomes something repeated, it becomes part of us. If it is something good, it will do us much good, but if it is something bad, it will cause us much harm.
Today's first reading, from the book of Sirach, speaks to us about the heart of man: "The kiln tests the work of the potter; so too is a person tested by their speech." Just as we are often responsible for what enters our hearts, our words, on the other hand, reveal what is in our hearts. We say that "You have to spend time with a person to know who they truly are." And what reveals who a person is? Their words and actions. One may be able to hide what is in their heart for a while, but they cannot hide it forever.
Thus, Sirach continues: "As the sieve shakes out the refuse, so does a person’s speech reveal their faults." None of us is perfect, and surely, when we examine ourselves, we will find that we have allowed some evil into our hearts. The first step to getting rid of this evil is to become aware of it.
With God’s will, we will soon begin the Holy Lent, a time when the Church, more than at any other time, invites us to silence. We live in a noisy world, and how difficult it is for a person to pause for a moment and reflect on the most important thing they have – their own heart.
"The fruit shows how well a tree has been cared for, so also does a person’s speech reveal their heart." A person who takes care of their mind and heart (their thoughts and emotions) is taking care of their greatest treasure.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us: "Can a blind person guide another blind person? Will they not both fall into a pit?" The person who does not pay attention to themselves and to what they allow into their life will let the evil of the world enter them, and from them, only evil will come forth.
It is useless to try to hide evil and pretend to be good, "for the mouth speaks from the abundance of the heart," Jesus continues. These words help us understand the responsibility we have toward each other, but above all, they apply to parents and those who hold important positions in the Church and society.
True love for one another must begin by taking care of what enters our minds and hearts, because from this depends how we influence others. "The good person brings forth good from the treasure of their heart, and the evil person brings forth evil from their evil treasure..."
Let us ask ourselves: How careful am I to ensure that the evil of the world does not enter my mind and heart, knowing that if I am not vigilant, evil will overcome me? How aware am I that the greatest gift I can give to my loved ones is not something material, but above all, who I am?
Lord, today we ask You to open our minds and hearts to Your Word, which is the source of all goodness so that our minds and hearts may be filled with those thoughts and feelings that please You. Only then can we give ourselves to one another with true love and a beautiful life. Amen.