3.1c Do I Have a heart of Gold?

Hearts of Gold A person with a heart of gold is very loving and generous and doesn’t make a big deal about it. Their hearts can bend and stretch to meet the needs of others. Their hearts don’t tarnish, corrode or break in tough times. There is no quick or easy way to purify gold or our hearts.

LUKE 6.32-38 Similar to the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew’s gospel. Jesus sums up his teachings. God rewards the kind of goodness that comes from within. We must be kind and generous even if we are not appreciated. Our attitudes towards others must be like God’s.

Mark 7.18-23 The Pharisees question Jesus about his followers not doing all of the purification rituals. Jesus says that the rituals are reminders of their relationship with God but they do not make or break that relationship. Separation from God (sin) happens when we act in an unloving way or have an unloving attitude.

Matthew 6.1-4 The trumpet was used to signify that something important was about to happen at the temple. It signified morning and evening offerings, the opening of the temple gates and if someone gave a large offering at the temple. Jesus is concerned that both the almsgiving and the trumpet have lost their meanings as offerings to God – he tells people to give in secrecy to ensure their motives are pure.

Matthew 6.5-6 Jewish males are required to pray 3 times a day and before and after all meals, while turning to Jerusalem. Jesus tells his followers to go to a quiet place when praying so their prayers can be directed toward God and not just be a show of holiness to others. Private prayer should be done in private.

Matthew 6.16-18 On the Day of Atonement, the whole community would fast, in addition to other days as part of their prayer. Pharisees fasted twice a week. Fasting was mourning for our sins and an act of penitence and humility. Jesus tells us not to make a big show that we are fasting and that we should do it joyfully. Recall the fifth precept about fasting and abstinence.

Matthew 6.19-21 Jewish writings often compare the keeping of God’s law to treasures in heaven. When we put God first in our lives, we are doing the only thing that can ever give us lasting happiness. A loving relationship with God can never be taken from us.

Blessed Are the Pure in heart, for they shall see God. These are people who act out of love for God and other people (not to get something in return). These people can see God and God’s goodness in happy times and hard times. These people are loving towards all people.

TO be pure of heart is: To be kind and respectful to rivals as well as friends. To not break a commitment in a hurtful way or encourage someone else to do so. To listen to others without judging. To love and give without calling attention to himself or herself

Modesty Honestly seeing our gifts, respecting them and using them to do God’s will rather than our own. False modesty is when someone does not see or admit to his or her gifts or talents. When people are modest their relationships tend to be stronger.

Modesty and Generosity To be truly generous, we have to be truly modest. God has entrusted us with precious gifts – and what we have has must be valuable because it belongs to God. People who are truly modest know that what they have to give is very valuable and yet they give it freely without expecting attention or praise.