(Note: I posted the music part of this post in an earlier post. The commentary places the song in context.)
Here is the scripture upon which I meditated as I composed this song.
²⁴ I will take you from the nations, and gather you from all the countries, and bring you into your own land. ²⁵ I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. ²⁶ A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. ²⁷ I will put my spirit within you, and make you follow my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances. ²⁸ Then you shall live in the land that I gave to your ancestors; and you shall be my people, and I will be your God. (Ezekiel 36:24-28, NRSV)
We all have hearts of stone that need to be enfleshed by God. There are people at whom we would all like to cast stones. And there is, assuredly, those who desire to cast stones at us. Part of our Paschal Journey is confronting the stony heart that dwells in our chest and the stony heart that dwells in the chest of others.
In her book, “The Healing Light”, Agnes Sanford writes that there will always be those who raise within us ill will, or those who go out of their way to cause us harm. The way Sanford deals with this is to learn to love these people. She speaks of this meditation. Envision finding yourself sitting facing the person you dislike, or has caused you harm. Now as you look at this person, see Jesus standing behind this person and embracing them in love. Remember that as much as you think Jesus loves you, Jesus loves this person as much or more.
Agnes Sanford gives us a way to open up our hearts so that God can transform them from hearts of stone into hearts of flesh.
As you listen to this song, think of what part of your heart has been turned to stone by the way others have treated you, or the way you have treated others. Ask God to bless these people. Ask God to bless you. Ask God to turn your heart of stone, into the heart of love, the heart of Jesus.
