Hardness of Heart

Recently, I watched the movie ‘The Ten Commandments’ for the umpteen time, in which Yul Brynner played the part of Pharoah. As I looked at the severity of the series of ten plagues, I was astonished that Pharoah would not relent and let the Israelites go. In the Book of Exodus, Pharaoh is said to have hardened his heart against God’s command to let the Israelites go, demonstrating a refusal to submit to Moses’ God.

When I read this weekend’s Gospel Mark 10: 2-16 ‘Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away’. And Jesus said to them, ‘Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.’ I thought of Moses and his experience with Pharoah. Moses certainly knew the consequences of ‘hardness of heart’ and in his compassion and mercy for the people he gave them this law.

The term ‘hardness of heart’ refers to a spiritual condition in which a person becomes resistant or unresponsive to God's will, love, and grace. It implies an inner stubbornness or refusal to be open to God's message, leading to moral insensitivity or a lack of compassion toward others.

Today, we also can demonstrate hardness of heart when we refuse to listen to the word of God, in the scriptures and in the teachings of the church. When we close ourselves off from God’s call to love and forgiveness, we risk becoming hard of heart, clinging to our own desires instead of seeking the freedom and joy that comes from being open to the Kingdom of God’s values.

Often, it is in the area of forgiveness that we refuse to change. We cling to past hurts, holding on to grudges and resentment, allowing bitterness to take root in our hearts. This unwillingness to forgive not only hardens our hearts but also blocks the flow of God’s grace in our own lives.

When we cling to unforgiveness, we close ourselves off from experiencing the full measure of God’s mercy, and in turn, we hinder our ability to extend that mercy to others. True freedom comes when we let go of these burdens, trusting in God's justice and mercy, and embracing the call to love and reconciliation.

It is only with softened hearts, open to the values of the Kingdom, that we can truly live as disciples of Christ, reflecting His love in the world. As we begin this week of reflections let us think of those who we need to forgive. Let us ask Jesus for the strength to forgive them.

Let us invite God’s grace to soften any hardness of heart within us. By seeking His strength to forgive, we not only experience His healing but also become instruments of His love and peace in the world.

Friends, I invite you to visit the link below to my upcoming online retreat on Navigating Life Transitions. I believe it is ideal for those dealing with significant change in their lives, guiding us to a closer relationship with Jesus. Navigating Life Transitions Retreat

Also, I invite you to check out my new ebook, an inspiring short story of A Life Transforming Homecoming at the link A Life Transforming Homecoming Book Link