Sermon on ‘What Is Happening in Your Heart?’ - Matthew 15:10–20
Jesus says: “Listen and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles.”
This is not simply a message about dietary regulations. It actually explains something very important about the whole ministry of Christ and what he has brought into this world.
Many years ago, when I was at seminary, there was a wonderful teacher of spirituality. He was an amazing man—so calm, so peaceful, so loving, and so wise.
After class, he used to go to the café at Trinity College, and we used to follow him because we wanted to be with him and talk with him. He was very open to that. His name was John.
We would bring our coffee or tea and sit with him. He would begin by saying, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Then he would take out a candy, carefully unwrap it, put it in his mouth, and enjoy it. He would roll his eyes and say, “This is really good. I love this candy.”
And we would simply watch him and smile. I thought it must be some very special Canadian candy. Later, I discovered that it was maple candy. But for John, it became almost a little spiritual practice.
He would have his candy, take a couple of sips of tea, look at us, and ask:
“What is happening in your hearts?” And then we would begin. We asked him questions about our studies, our lives, our difficulties, our faith. He never rushed to answer. He would look into our eyes, nod his head, and think.
The candy brought us joy. His listening brought us peace. And joy and peace became the door through which we entered Christ’s presence and received Christ’s wisdom. I have never forgotten that.
Then, during my second year, another man joined us. His name was Caleb. He had studied many subjects and had many academic qualifications.
One day he saw us going to meet John and asked, “Where are you going?”
“We’re going to talk with John.”
“Can I come?”
We replied: “Of course.”
So Caleb joined us. There were seven of us around the table. John did exactly what he always did.
He asked us to get our tea or coffee, and then he said:
“In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Then he took out his candy. He unwrapped it, put it in his mouth, and said: “This is really good. I am really enjoying it.”
We smiled because we knew and loved this little ritual.
But Caleb was uncomfortable. He moved around in his chair and looked from one person to another. He seemed to be waiting for John to begin some great intellectual or theological discussion.
Then John asked: “What is happening in your hearts?”
Caleb looked around, took out his phone, and said, “I’m sorry. I joined you late. I have to go.”
Later, we saw him in the dining hall. He asked us, “Why don’t you say anything to him? Why are you afraid of him?”
We said, “What do you mean?”
He said, “This candy thing! Why do we have to sit there and watch him eat candy? We’re adults. We’re supposed to be having a serious discussion.”
I said, “But he loves his candy, and we love watching him enjoy it. What’s wrong with that?”
Caleb answered: “No, no. Somebody should say something politely. This isn’t right.” I said, “No. It is very right.” And we left it there.
A few days later, we met again. John began exactly as he always did: the name of God, the tea, and the candy.
Then Caleb said, “You know, wouldn’t it be better to start the discussion? I don’t understand this candy. You always do this. Do we really need to wait while you have your candy?”
We were stunned. John simply looked into Caleb’s eyes, nodded, and instead of defending himself, he said: “Would you like to try it? It is really good.”
Caleb was frustrated. He didn’t know what to say. I looked at John and said,
“If you have more, I would love to have one. I love candies.”
Caleb looked at me as if I had committed a mortal sin! But John gave me a candy. I unwrapped it, put it in my mouth, and said, “Thanks be to God! What a taste! This is amazing!”
I had forgotten about Caleb. I was smiling. John smiled and said, “I knew you were going to enjoy it. It is a really good candy.”
Then everyone else asked, “Do you have more?”
John brought out the bag and gave everyone a candy. We were enjoying it together.
But Caleb began asking theological questions—challenging John about the Trinity, about theological definitions, about things that required long academic answers. John kept bringing him back to the heart: “How does this change your heart? How does this help you live?”
But Caleb became more frustrated. He wanted to prove how knowledgeable he was. John was not there to prove anything. He was having tea, enjoying his candy, resting after teaching, and spending time with us. Eventually, Caleb left.
We apologized to John. He smiled and said, “Don’t apologize. Come back next Wednesday. We’ll have fun.”
I never forgot that experience. And today’s gospel sheds light on the matter.
Jesus says: “Out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, theft, false witness, slander.”
I am not saying Caleb was a bad person or that he had evil intentions. But Jesus’ words shed light on what was happening. Anger and frustration had taken over. And this is something we all need to understand.
There can be righteous anger against injustice. That anger can move a Christian community to act—to pray, discern, plan, and work for justice in the presence of Christ.
But anger, frustration, and resentment, when we feed them and give them more and more energy, can become something destructive. They can become a veil in front of our spiritual eyes. We can no longer see Christ’s presence.
Because the heart, in the biblical sense, is much more than the organ that pumps blood. The heart is where our intentions, thoughts, desires, hopes, and inner words live. And we all have an inner conversation. Thoughts come. Anger comes. Frustration comes. Sometimes even thoughts we do not want come.
But the spiritual teachers and seekers have taught us something very important: we can observe our thoughts without becoming our thoughts.
We can sit quietly and say: “Here is an angry thought.” “Here is frustration.” “Here is fear.” “Here is a thought that is taking me away from Christ.” Let it come. Let it go. Like a river, it comes and goes.
We don’t have to follow every thought that enters our minds.
We can ask:
Does this thought bring me closer to Jesus Christ?
Does this inner conversation bring me closer to God?
Does it bring healing to me and to others?
We live only once on this earth. Why should we waste our lives feeding thoughts that destroy our peace?
Instead, let us discover the treasure Jesus is speaking about.
Let us seek wisdom.
Let us care for our bodies and souls.
Let us bring healing to ourselves so that we can offer healing to our brothers and sisters.
Let us make room for joy.
And when those difficult thoughts come, we can say:
“Come. I see you. I know you are here.”
And then we can let them pass.
Gradually, we learn to think like Christ Jesus.
We learn to speak words that Christ would speak.
We learn to have a good inner conversation.
We learn to enjoy God’s presence.
We learn to ask for more wisdom.
And perhaps this is what Jesus is inviting us to do today:
Look inside.
Not with fear.
Not with condemnation.
But with honesty.
And ask the question John asked us so many years ago:
“What is happening in your heart?”
Amen.
How to make the Anglican Rosary
Anglican Prayer Beads
A Form of Contemplative Prayer
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Anglican Prayer Beads are a relatively new form of prayer, blending the Orthodox Jesus Prayer Rope and the Roman Catholic Rosary. The thirty-three bead design was created by the Rev. Lynn Bauman in the mid-1980s, through the prayerful exploration and discovery of a contemplative prayer group.
The use of the rosary or prayer beads helps to bring us into contemplative of meditative prayer—really thinking about and being mindful of praying, of being in the presence of God—by use of mind, body, and spirit. The touching of the fingers on each successive bead is an aid in keeping our mind from wandering, and the rhythm of the prayers leads us more readily into stillness.
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Symbolism of the Beads
The configuration of the Anglican Prayer Beads relate contemplative prayer using the Rosary to many levels of traditional Christian symbolism. Contemplative prayer is enriched by these symbols whose purpose is always to focus and concentrate attention, allowing the one who prays to move more swiftly into the Presence of God.
The prayer beads are made up of twenty-eight beads divided into four groups of seven called weeks. In the Judeo-Christian tradition the number seven represents spiritual perfection and completion. Between each week is a single bead, called a cruciform bead as the four beads form a cross. The invitatory bead between the cross and the wheel of beads brings the total to thirty-three, the number of years in Jesus’ earthly life.
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Praying with the beads
To begin, hold the Cross and say the prayer you have assigned to it, then move to the Invitatory Bead. Then enter the circle of the prayer with the first Cruciform Bead, moving to the right,
go through the first set of seven beads to the next Cruciform bead, continuing around the circle,
saying the prayers for each bead.
It is suggested that you pray around the circle of the beads three times (which signifies the Trinity)
in an unhurried pace, allowing the repetition to become a sort of lullaby of love and praise that enables your mind to rest and your heart to become quiet and still.
Praying through the beads three times and adding the crucifix at the beginning or the end, brings the total to one hundred, which is the total of the Orthodox Rosary. A period of silence should follow the prayer, for a time of reflection and listening. Listening is an important part of all prayer.
Begin praying the Anglican Prayer Beads by selecting the prayers you wish to use for the cross and each bead. Practice them until it is clear which prayer goes with which bead, and as far as possible commit the prayers to memory.
Find a quiet spot and allow your body and mind to become restful and still. After a time of silence, begin praying the prayer beads at an unhurried, intentional pace. Complete the circle of the beads three times.
When you have completed the round of the prayer beads, you should end with a period of silence. This silence allows you to center your being in an extended period of silence. It also invites reflection and listening after you have invoked the Name and Presence of God.
Closing your Prayers
The following ending can be used with any of the prayers in this booklet. After three circuits around the prayer beads, you may finish as follows:
Last time through:
Invitatory Bead
The Lord’s Prayer
The Cross
I bless the Lord.
Or, in a group setting:
Let us bless the Lord
Thanks be to God.
Prayers
You may mix and match or put together your own.
Bless the Lord
The Cross
Blessed be the one, holy, and living God.
Glory to God for ever and ever. Amen.
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The Invitatory
O God make speed to save me (us),
O Lord make haste to help me (us),
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
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The Cruciforms
Behold now, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord. You that stand in the house of the Lord, lift up your hands in the holy place and bless the Lord.
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The Weeks
I lift up my eyes to the hills;
From where is my help to come?
My help comes from the Lord,
The maker of heaven and earth.
The Cross
In the Name of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
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The Invitatory
O God make speed to save me (us),
O Lord make haste to help me (us),
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
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The Cruciforms
Holy God,
Holy and Mighty,
Holy Immortal One,
Have mercy upon me (us).
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The Weeks
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,
Have mercy on me, a sinner.
Or, in a group setting:
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Have mercy upon us.
*Trisagion means "thrice Holy"
Agnus Dei Prayer
The Cross
The Lord’s Prayer
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The Invitatory
"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer."—Psalm 19:14
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The Cruciforms
Oh, Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world
have mercy upon us,
Oh, Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world
have mercy upon us,
Oh, Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world
give us Thy Peace.
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The Weeks
Almighty and merciful Lord,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
bless us and keep us.
Amen.
*Agnus Dei means "Lamb of God"
Julian of Norwich Prayer
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The Cross
In the Name of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Invitatory
O God make speed to save me (us),
O Lord make haste to help me (us),
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
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The Cruciforms
God of your goodness, give me yourself,
For you are enough to me.
And I can ask for nothing less that is to your glory.
And if I ask for anything less, I shall still be in want, for only in you have I all.
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The Weeks
All shall be well, and all shall be well,
And all manner of things shall be well.
Or
In His love He has done His works, and in His love He has made all things beneficial to us.
This prayer was created by Sister Brigit-Carol, S.D.
www.solitariesofdekoven.org
A Celtic Prayer
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The Cross
In the Name of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Invitatory
O God make speed to save me (us),
O Lord make haste to help me (us),
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
The Cruciforms
Be the eye of God dwelling with me,
The foot of Christ in guidance with me,
The shower of the Spirit pouring on me,
Richly and generously
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The Weeks
Pray each phrase on a separate bead.
I bow before the Father who made me,
I bow before the Son who saved me,
I bow before the Spirit who guides me,
In love and adoration.
I praise the Name of the one on high.
I bow before thee Sacred Three,
The ever One, the Trinity.
This prayer was created by Sister Brigit-Carol, S.D.
www.solitariesofdekoven.org
Come Lord Jesus Prayer
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The Cross
"Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen."—Revelation 7:12
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The invitatory
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble."—Psalm 46:1
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The Cruciforms
"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless God’s Holy Name."—Psalm 103:1
The Weeks
"Come Lord Jesus, draw us to yourself."—John 12:32
Saint Patrick's Breastplate
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The Cross
I bind unto myself today the strong Name of the Trinity,
by invocation of the same, the Three in One, and One in Three.
Of whom all nature hath creation, eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
praise to the Lord of my salvation, salvation is of Christ the Lord.
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The Invitatory
Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
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The Cruciforms
I bind unto myself today
the strong Name of the Trinity,
by invocation of the same,
the Three in One, and One in Three.
The Weeks
1. I bind this day to me for ever, by power of faith, Christ’s Incarnation;
2. his baptism in Jordan river;
3. his death on cross for my salvation;
4. his bursting from the spicèd tomb;
5. his riding up the heavenly way;
6. his coming at the day of doom:
7. I bind unto myself today.
1. I bind unto myself the power of the great love of cherubim;
2. the sweet "Well done" in judgment hour;
3. the service of the seraphim;
4. confessors’ faith, apostles’ word,
5. the patriarchs’ prayers, the prophets’ scrolls;
6. all good deeds done unto the Lord,
7. and purity of virgin souls.
1. I bind unto myself today the virtues of the starlit heaven,
2. the glorious sun’s life-giving ray,
3. the whiteness of the moon at even,
4. the flashing of the lightning free,
5. the whirling of the wind’s tempestuous shocks,
6. the stable earth, the deep salt sea,
7. around the old eternal rocks.
1. I bind unto myself today the power of God to hold and lead,
2. his eye to watch, his might to stay,
3. his ear to hearken, to my need;
4. the wisdom of my God to teach,
5. his hand to guide, his shield to ward;
6. the word of God to give me speech,
7. his heavenly host to be my guard.
Words: attributed to St. Patrick (372-466)
translated by Cecil Frances Alexander, 1889
Adapted for use with Anglican Prayer Beads by Laura Kelly Campbell
An Evening Prayer
The Cross
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
The Invitatory
Open my lips, O Lord,
and my mouth shall proclaim
Your praise.
The Cruciforms
Guide us waking, O Lord,
and guard us sleeping;
that awake we may watch
with Christ, and asleep
we may rest in peace.
The Weeks
Jesus, lamb of God, have mercy on us.
Jesus, bearer of our sins, have mercy on us.
Jesus, redeemer of the world, give us your peace.
