“are not rich in what matters to God.”
Many have heard the saying; there is a “God-shaped hole” in our hearts. Is this saying just an easy answer to a complex problem is it a “crutch”. The readings this Sunday revolve around and dive deep into this simple saying.
MUSIC – Plumb - God Shaped Hole
There's a God-shaped hole in all of us / And the restless soul is searching / There's a God-shaped hole in all of us / And it's a void only He can fill
What does “God-shaped hole” mean? It simply means that there is a place in our hearts that is empty, and God is the only who can fill it. It is like a missing puzzle piece right in the middle of a puzzle. You can try and find other ways to fill that missing spot, but only the right piece with the right image can finish the picture.
ACTIVITY – Wax fusion
Using the words of Saint John Vianney from the Spiritual Reading we can demonstrate the analogy he gives. “Prayer is nothing else but union with God. When one has a heart that is pure and united with God, he is given a kind of serenity and sweetness that makes him ecstatic, a light that surrounds him with marvelous brightness. In this intimate union, God and the soul are fused together like two bits of wax that no one can ever pull apart. This union of God with a tiny creature is a lovely thing. It is a happiness beyond understanding.” It would be good to get to pieces or cubes of wax. One piece red, one piece blue and then when melted together they would be purple. One piece blue, one piece yellow and then when melted together they would be green. Once the two pieces become one, ask if the two piece can be separated. This oneness is the reality of the one who has a heart that is pure and united with God, one that has filled the God shaped hole.
Why is God the only one who can fill that spot in our hearts? First, the responsorial psalm tells us, “God is the rock of our salvation. Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!”[i] If God is our rock of salvation then we must learn that the things of this world in the end don’t nearly matter as much as God. The first readings talk about not allowing one’s self fall prey to worrying to much about the things of this world: “All his days sorrow and grief are his occupation; even at night his mind is not at rest.”[ii] Saint Paul in the second reading writes, “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on the things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”[iii] We pray “Oh, grant us endless length of days, in our true native land with Thee”[iv] in order to set our eyes on heaven, our end. Our fallen nature (concupiscence) desires the things of the world rather than God and seeks fulfillment here on earth rather than ultimate fulfillment in the beatific vision (heaven) which begins now. This is why the rule of Saint Benedict says, “to prefer nothing to the love of Christ”[v] This is also why the world is one of our three enemies, the other two being Satan and the flesh. The world is “the false maxims of the world, and the society of those who love the vanities, riches, and pleasures of this world better than God.”[vi] In the Gospel we see that the pursuit of wealth and worldly things to fill the heart, leads to depression and despair.
Search: Seeking God
What is depression? The Modern Catholic Dictionary describes depression as “A term used by spiritual writers to describe a state of despondency during which a person feels inadequate, tends to withdraw from others, lacks response to normal stimulation, and is pessimistic about the future. Theologians of asceticism warn about giving in to moods of depression, which they describe as the characteristic temptation of those who strive after sanctity.”[vii] If we allow ourselves to dwell in depression and not strive for heaven, it could lead us into sloth or even despair.
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There are many different anti-depression medications out there. Link to Liturgy is not advocating not taking any medication if needed, however there are a few things. First, none of these pills “cures” depression. Many people also can find other ways of handling depression. For example, a Duke medical study found that those who do just 30 minutes of brisk exercise three times a day works just as well, if not better, than anti-depression drugs.[viii] Final thought: Most of these people who are on anti-depressants are in first world countries like the United States. They have “everything” they could ever want in terms of materials and worldly things, yet they are depressed. However, in third-world countries where there is extreme poverty and little worldly possession we see people who are less depressed. This does not mean they do not suffer for they do suffer greatly, but they also have a greater awareness of God, where in many cases people in the first world have abandon God.
What is sloth? “A culpable lack of physical or spiritual effort; acedia or laziness. One of the capital sins.”[ix] Sloth is an easy sin to fall into when we are depressed. We stop thinking of the future, the tasks at hand, or even God. We abandon any effort to have a relationship with God.
Search: The Beatitudes: Part I
Search: Fully Human: No Less... (Part II)
What is Despair? The Catechism’s definition is simply, “The abandonment of hope in salvation and the forgiveness of sins.”[x] “It is therefore not mere anxiety about the future or fear that one may be lost. It is rather a deliberate yielding to the idea that human nature cannot co-operate with God’s grace, or that the despairing person is too wicked to be saved, or that God has cast one away. It is a grave crime against God’s goodness.”[xi] Those who do not seek God only have the things of this world to seek. When that is all they can seek they give into inappropriate desires and indulge in sinful behavior. Despair is not only a grave sin but is a sin against the Holy Spirit. Why is the sin of despair so grave? It is the belief that our human nature cannot co-operate with God’s grace, that we are too wicked to be saved, or that God has cast us away. Remember God does not cast us away, we case our self away. All those who are in heaven are there because they choose to be there, many chose to stay in despair. Why would we want to stay in despair? We may choose to stay in despair because the alternative means we need to be active, zealous, deny self, pick up our cross, and follow Christ. To stay in despair is to be a coward. We must pray for the gift of the Holy Spirit called fortitude which will give us the courage to break out of the sin of despair.
What is desire? Desire is placed in every person, and can be a great tool in our belt. However, it can also be distorted and hurt us if not used properly. Desire is “to wish or long for the possession or enjoyment of something that a person’s appetite does not presently have. Desires are natural if they proceed from man’s inborn lack of what he needs; they are supernatural when inspired by divine grace. Man’s fallen nature has desires that incline to what is sinful, but, so far from being sinful, these desires of concupiscence are a source of merit provided they are controlled according to the will of God.”[xii]
MUSIC – “Desire” by U2
The song is talking about a desire for a woman and fame. Easily two of the biggest weapons Satan uses to distort our desire are lust and egocentricity selfishness. It is good to have a drive and desire, but we must ask ourselves do we desire the things of God or the things of this world?
Why do we have a desire for things on earth? We desire the things on earth for necessity and the things that are bad out of concupiscence. The things we naturally desire like food, water, shelter are basic needs that are natural and good because they help us sustain our lives. The deeper desires raise our intellect and separate us from animals. A desire to seek answers, truth, love, creation, etc. The desire for bad things can even be a good thing for us if we rise above them. God allows us to build merit when we say no to sinful desires for the greater natural desire.
What is our basic natural desire? The natural basic natural desire is for happiness or “Desire for Beatitude”. What is Desire for Beatitude? “It is the basic inclination of humans to be perfectly happy. This desire is universal, for it is found in all people without exception, even in morbid or abnormal persons, though with some distortion. It is also unavoidable, for it lasts throughout life. It is finally irresistible because it insistently demands satisfaction. Ceaseless human unrest, shown in its constant activity, is an expression of this innate desire in varying forms. Theologians discuss whether this instinct for perfect happiness is a natural desire for heaven. The Church’s explanation is that grace builds on nature, and therefore the human will inspired by grace can have a strong desire for heaven and the vision of God. But this is already the supernatural virtue of hope and not the longing of mere human nature.”[xiii]
Let us ask ourselves today “Where is my heart?” “Because we know that our destination is Heaven, we have to make positive and concrete acts of detachment with regard to what we own and what we use. How much do we share our goods with the needy? How much time and wealth do we contribute to apostolic works?”[xiv]
[i] Responsorial Psalm, Ps. 94
[ii] ECC 2:23
[iii] Second Reading: Col 3:1-5; 9-11
[iv] O Salturaris Hostia
[v] Rule of Saint Benedict (Link to Liturgy Book of Prayer)
[vi] The Penny Catechism (Link to Liturgy Book of Prayer)
[vii] Hardon, Modern Catholic Dictionary pg. 153
[viii] http://today.duke.edu/2000/09/exercise922.html
[ix] CCC Glossary, pg. 899
[x] CCC Glossary, pg. 874
[xi] Hardon, Modern Catholic Dictionary pg. 154
[xii] Hardon, Modern Catholic Dictionary pg. 153 – 154
[xiii] Hardon, Modern Catholic Dictionary pg. 154
[xiv] Fernandez, In Conversation with God 4, 48.1