Commentary on the Gospel of
Solid Faith and Liquid Hearts
Looking across the two readings and the responsorial verse, we find three hard things: a stone that kills Goliath, a rock that provides stability, and hearts that are hardened. Solidity is a virtue only when it is rooted on the true rock of our lives—God. He becomes the deepest foundation from where we can shape our responses and reach out, as demanded by the needs of the times. David was so rooted, which directed his decisions and actions. However, the Pharisees were solid in the wrong place—in their own hearts which only got closed in on itself. Had they been grounded in the rock of God, their hearts would have found a joyous flexibility to reach out and raise the paralyzed hand of their brother. We need rock-like faith, but liquid hearts that can melt in compassion for the other.
