I got some great advice today. My spiritual director helped me to realize something very simple. After making my confession he told me something I never thought he would say. He said “Sean, harden your heart..”
I thought for a second that I had misheard what he said and then he continued explaining that we all make mistakes and walk away from God, but it is through those failures and challenges that Jesus is able to tell us where we need to work a little harder, it is almost like Jesus is giving us homework to work on.
He said that we must harden our hearts to those things around us (temptation and sin) that draw our attention away from love and from our vocation (who God wants us to be). He explained further that while part of the heart must be hardened, another part must be opened wider to give and receive more love, the love that comes from Jesus and is meant to be shared with all.
I never thought I would hear a priest tell me to harden my heart. Then again it kind of makes sense, that’s why formation or seminary takes so many years, these years are your “boot camp” to get your life, especially spiritual life, built solid like a rock. Seminary and formation is all about “gettin’ big” with, through and in Jesus.
It is only after those years that if good formation has taken place your heart is ready for whatever will be thrown at it. Don Bosco was ready to go when he was ordained, he jumped in among the boys and never looked back. This is my time to build those spiritual muscles I need, I’m glad I have a good trainer to set me back on track every week, I would be lost without him. Having someone help you along your spiritual journey is a must!
This is absolutely correct, sometimes we have to learn to harden our hearts in order not to fall into unnecessary temptations. For example, I feel particularly like this is referring to me, i find it very easy to develop feelings for good looking guys even when i know that i dont want to end up with someone maybe due to the character and attitude, i tell myself that i mustnt fall for this person but before i know it, I find myself feeling vulnerable towards that person and although i am a 26yr old virgin and intend by the grace of God to remain a virgin until i get married, I feel that my heart should also remain virgin to an extent, not being vulnerable to all sorts of people. I really pray to God to harden my soft heart. even the bible says that we should guard our hearts for out of them come the treasures of life, I really hope that God will hear my cry and finally give me the right man that matches my needs. I am tired of falling in love or infatuation with wrong guys, at the end of the day, i am crying and they move on very easily, God please hear my cry, this is not the plan God has for his children, God i need your help to harden my heart and remove lust of the flesh and lust of the eyes from me.