Today we think of the heart as the symbolic seat of emotion.  By contrast, Biblical references to the heart refer to more than feelings.   In the Bible the heart is where mind, will, emotion, and spirit intersect.  We commit to God and to one another with our heart.  The Book of Common Prayer reflects this usage of “heart” in the Collect for Purity that we pray at the beginning of the Holy Eucharist.  We pray that the Holy Spirit will “cleanse the thoughts of our hearts.”  The heart, in other words, is capable of thoughts as well as feelings and desires.

The Christian faith journey is a heart journey in this sense.  Jesus teaches his disciples—he teaches us—who God is.  We have much to learn about what our Lord wants for us and from us.  This is why Christian Formation is an essential part of every disciple’s life.  Our hearts always need replenishing.

Rally Day provides each of us an opportunity to commit anew to the Christian heart journey.  Parents will register their children for Sunday formational programs and the EYC will get into full swing again.  But I want to emphasize that we all need to replenish our hearts on a regular basis.  Our hearts are on an infinite, eternal journey.  We are not finished deepening our relationship with Christ.  So I urge each of you to find a Christian Formation offering that promises to stretch and to grow your heart this program year.

Our shared mission centers on the phrase “To love and serve Christ.”  Loving Christ, and serving him joyfully out of love, is a matter of the heart.  Our Christian journey requires that we keep our hearts replenished so that we can offer a heart full of love to our Lord and Savior.