Weekly HOMILY for March 4, 2007: Diastolic and Systolic Rhythms: The Secret to Life in the Spirit

2nd Sunday of Lent, Cycle C
Our Lady of Grace
March 4, 2007

Diastolic and Systolic Rhythms: The Secret to Life in the Spirit
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato


The Physical Diastolic and Systolic

I suppose we would all say that the most fascinating and vital part of our human body is the heart.

From Medieval Times, we learned that the heart operates in a two-fold movement called the diastolic and the systolic.

First, in the diastolic movement, the heart dilates and expands and the chambers fill up with blood.

Then, in the systolic process, the heart contracts, and blood is pumped and forced outwards, back into the body.

This in-and-out action is essential got getting oxygen, enriched blood to all parts of the body. It forms the heartbeat of human life.

When this two-fold movement fails us, we suffer heart attacks, arrhythmia, and other serious problems.


The Spiritual Diastolic and Systolic

As is often the case, the world of the spiritual parallels the world of the spiritual. This morning, I would suggest that this is one of those times.

This same two-fold movement – the diastolic and systolic, the drawing in and pumping out – this same process forms the heartbeat of our spiritual life and journey.


The Spiritual Diastolic

First, in our spiritual life – there is a time for drawing in, for filling up our inner resources.

There is a time for taking in the spiritual energy and personal power that is needed to survive.

We see this spiritual diastolic in today’s readings.

In the passage from Genesis, Abraham has an encounter with God. He experiences God as present and giving him a vision and hope.

Then, in the Gospel, Jesus has been busy traveling from place to place, teaching, healing and responding to the needs of others.

Worn down by his ministering, we are told that he withdraws and goes up a mountain where he prays, meditates, and enters into quiet time with his Father.

This, then, is his time for filling up his inner resources and taking in the spiritual energy and power that he needs.

We also, all of us, need this spiritual diastolic movement.

It is vital for each of us to draw back and draw into ourselves the spiritual life – the oxygenated blood of God’s peace, wisdom, and love.

One of the main ways that we do this is by coming to Mass and hearing the Word and receiving the Eucharist each week with other persons of faith.

We also do this by slowly reading and reflecting on a passage of Scripture or just being quiet and letting God come to us in what we think are our ordinary thoughts and feelings.

Or we can do this by slowly praying some favorite prayers, like the rosary or the Stations of the Cross.

This spiritual diastolic movement puts us in touch with God and in touch with ourselves at one and the same time.


The Spiritual Systolic

After this drawing in, there is also a need for the spiritual systolic movement. In other words, we need to go back into our ordinary life, back to the journey.

In the first reading today, after his experience with God, Abraham is sent forth on a journey that must have looked daunting and uncertain.

In the Gospel, Peter goes up on the mountain with Jesus. He enjoys the experience so much that he wants to continue it by pitching three tents – one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.

However, he cannot do that and must join Jesus in coming down off the mountain and getting on with their work.

We all have a sense that we have got to get on with things. We simply can’t stay in church or quietly pray all day. There’s little choice regarding our many responsibilities so there’s no sense even thinking about pitching tents and staying in the diastolic.

But, for us, it is the diastolic that shapes our lives:
➢ It sends us back better able to cope with the stresses and tensions that are there.
➢ It sends us back better able to deal with hurts, upsets, and worries.
➢ And it sends us back even empowered to choose to do things for the Lord, perhaps to volunteer in our children’s schools or to participate in some outreach to the needy.

It is as if the spiritual diastolic movement pumps us into the spiritual systolic with renewed spiritual oxygen and energy.


Conclusion

To conclude: I believe this twofold action, the in and the out, the diastolic and the systolic, is a great way of understanding our own spiritual journey.

If we choose to live our lives with this rhythmic movement, the results will be there. We, little by little, will be transformed as Jesus was on the mountain today.

Step-by-step, degree-by-degree, the God present within us will emerge and be visible. We will become more alive and on the journey that leads to the fullness of life with God.