The Sacred Heart is the center of Holy Week. This is the key to understand the mystery of Christ’s Passion. There is something about the human heart that surpasses understanding and can only be understood from one heart to another. The secrets hidden in the heart are secrets because they simply cannot be put into words. Any attempt to replace the clear and decisive motions of the heart with reason and explanation clouds their purpose. Any attempt to evoke the yearnings and aches of the heart with poetry, music, or art seem dramatic or exaggerated. « Le cœur a ses raisons que la raison ne connaît point » “More tortuous than anything is the human heart, beyond remedy; who can understand it? I, the LORD, explore the mind and test the heart, Giving to all according to their ways, according to the fruit of their deeds.”
Monday of Holy Week
Quotes:
“He is like a skillful physician, understanding the weakness of each one. The ignorant he loves to teach. The erring he turns again to his own true way. By those who live by faith he is easily found. To those of pure eye and holy heart, who desire to knock at the door, he opens immediately. For he casts away none of his servants as unworthy of the divine mysteries. He does not esteem the rich person more highly than the poor, nor does he despise the poor person for his poverty. He does not disdain the barbarian, nor does he set the eunuch aside as no man.”
Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent
The lament of Jeremiah is echoed as Jesus attempts to reason and dialogue with his persecutors. We could wonder why Jesus even bothers trying to explain himself to those who are convinced he is a sinner. Perhaps it is to drive home the point about how difficult it is for us to let go of our false judgements when we have already made up our mind. No matter how intelligent Jesus is, there is nothing he can say to change the heart of those who want Him dead. Judgement appears, because it is an achievement of reason, like something intelligent. The role of the intellect is, however, most importantly to discern the good. If in my judgements I have not discerned the good, they are not very intelligent.