"I Hold You in My Heart"

Homily for Friday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

The warmth of Paul's affection for the Philippians shines through every line of this letter. It is not a letter written by a distant theologian but by a pastor whose heart is bound to a beloved community.

“I hold you in my heart."

Those words from today's first reading may be among the most beautiful that St. Paul ever wrote. As Paul sits in prison, uncertain about what lies ahead, his thoughts turn to the community at Philippi. He remembers them with gratitude. He prays for them with joy. He assures them that God, who began a good work in them, will continue to bring it to completion.

Paul gives us a glimpse into the heart of Christian discipleship. Faith is a relationship. Paul loves the people of this community. He carries them in his heart. Their growth in faith brings him joy. Their struggles become his concern. Their future remains the object of his prayer.

Who do we hold in our hearts? As we move through life, many people become part of us. Family members, friends, communities, teachers, mentors, brother and sister religious, even those who have died. They remain present within us. We remember them before God. We thank God for the good work God has begun in them.

The Gospel offers a striking contrast. The religious leaders are watching Jesus closely; they hope to catch him doing something wrong. Their hearts are filled with suspicion rather than compassion. When Jesus sees the man suffering from dropsy, he does not first ask whether healing is permitted. He sees a human being in need. For Jesus, mercy is God's will.

The leaders have become so concerned with rules that they no longer notice the suffering person standing before them. Jesus restores their focus. The suffering man is a child of God to be loved. That is the thread connecting today's readings. Paul looks at the Philippians and sees people whom he carries in his heart. Jesus looks at the sick man and sees someone worthy of compassion. Both remind us that authentic faith always enlarges our capacity to love.

Psalm 111 celebrates the wonderful works of the Lord. Those works are not confined to the past. God continues those works even now. Every act of kindness, every prayer offered for another, every moment of mercy, every burden shared, every hand extended to someone in need reveals that God's good work is still unfolding among us.

Today let us take a quiet moment to remember those whom we carry in our hearts. We can thank God for them, pray for them, and entrust them to the One who has begun a good work in each of us. Then, like Paul and like Jesus, we can go forth determined to see others not as problems to be solved or obstacles to be overcome, but as beloved children of God who deserve our compassion, our encouragement, and our love.