Something in the Heart

On the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, I am reminded of the following quote by opera singer Enrico Caruso, who said that his success could be attributed to six things: “A big chest, a big mouth, 90% memory, 10% intelligence, lots of hard work, and something in the heart.” 

As a fisherman who lugged around heavy nets, Saint Peter likely had a big chest; we know he had a big mouth (“Even though all should have their faith shaken, mine will not be!”); and he certainly relied on his memories of Jesus as he proclaimed the Good News. Saint Paul also had a big mouth (“You foolish Galatians!”). As a scholar who had never met Jesus in the flesh, he naturally relied more on intelligence than on memory. However, both Saints Peter and Paul were indefatigable in their work of building up the kingdom of God, and it was all made possible by something in the heart — a personal experience of the love of Christ. 

Last week in my residency for the Souljourners spiritual direction training program, the following observation by Jennifer Ruffing was shared: “Our directees sense that we respond to them in the same way that God does, so the ground we stand on is the same ground we sense God is standing on — open embrace, love, acceptance, and belief in the other person” (from Spiritual Direction: Beyond the Beginnings). 

This calling to respond to others in the same way that God does is not limited to spiritual directors — it is the vocation of all disciples of Jesus, who said, “Love one another as I have loved you.” We need to remind ourselves constantly of God’s loving presence in our lives through prayer, receiving the Eucharist, journaling, gratitude — whatever keeps us in touch with that “something in the heart” that allows us to stand on the ground of God’s faithful love and mercy and offer it to others.