God Looks at the Heart
Fourth Sunday of Lent – March 15, 2026
It’s good to recall the three key influences that form the character and life of every person:
1) nature (what we are born with)= 1/3; + 2) nurture (how we are raised)= 1/3; and
3) environment (school, exposed to what? social media, the people we mix with, etc.)= 1/3.
Some of us are born with physical challenges. Others are raised in broken families. Others suffer abuse/ neglect; etc. The reality is that we are all ‘broken’ in some way as we grow up. Usually, no one has perfect parents; but most love us, as children, the best that they can.
Now, negative beginnings in our lives do not have to trap us, for the rest of our lives, to continue the cycle of disfunction, abuse or violence: with God’s grace, and our cooperation, any past negative experiences can become a source of healing for others and ourselves.
About the central theme of the First Reading, let me quote from www.GodsBless.ing: “God’s surprising choice of David as king, shows that divine selection is based on the heart rather than outward appearance. The hidden message is that human judgment often values status, strength, or looks, but God values inner character, humility, and faithfulness.”
And we see that in the text: “Man looks at appearances, but the Lord looks at the heart.” This is a key point for younger people who have not yet had a chance to gain status, or power/ wealth or look important: God has great plans for you if you work hard and faithfully, to develop virtue and integrity, honesty and humility.
Sadly, some youth and adults alike, are tempted to take short cuts and present a false image of sophistication and subtle lies to promote themselves. But it is not sustainable or life-giving.
However, what is vitally important for all of us to remember is that employers, and friends alike, look for people who are honest, trustworthy, reliable, humble and faithful.
The fact that David is not even mentioned or presented to the prophet until pressed, indicates that nobody thought him worthy of anything yet. As we know, in the Bible, the number seven indicates perfection. But David is number 8. Think about that for a while.
Is God challenging us to look at what we consider to be “perfect” solutions, and try something new? As Einstein supposedly said, “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used, when we created them”: we need a shift in perspective to overcome challenges.
This is emphasised by the gospel story of the man born blind: after encountering Jesus, he can see again. How many of us are trapped in the same old, same old ways of thinking and doing? Do we have the courage to let God’s ways change our normal ways?
A cracked water pot, after 2 years of apparent failure, spoke to the man at the river: “I’m ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house.” The man said to the pot, “Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path? That’s because I knew about your crack, and I planted seeds on your side of the path. For two years you have been watering the flowers and making our place beautiful. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house.”
What can we learn from this First Reading? I think there are four key points:
1. Just as Jesus helped the blind man, and God saw potential in David, older people must look for potential in younger people, and give them opportunities to learn, to act and to shine.
Look for character and faithfulness and generosity; and help them develop it;
- When we give young people a chance to participate, and listen to their contributions, we often create very loyal friends/ workers/ leaders to sustain us, and guide our world in the future.
- Power came upon David after the anointing: older people must not expect young people to be fully developed before being chosen: God’s grace + our input will multiply their capacity.
- Young people must not be lazy, but must be active doing small things while they develop their skills and virtues so that they are ready, and more able, to contribute when chosen: God takes the little we offer and multiplies it: but if we try nothing, little can be multiplied.
I was touched by a statement made by Kenyan, Wangari Maathai (the first African woman recipient of the Nobel Peace prize): “We are called to assist the earth, to heal her wounds, and in the process heal our own.” What is key in this quote, is how we find healing as we help others to find healing: be they people, mother earth or a group that supports our communities.
For all of us, drawn into the text today, look more deeply into our own lives about whom we choose to follow: the politicians we elect, the people we nominate. God has taught us to look for character and faithfulness, not charisma.
How many “Davids” do we overlook? And our communities are the worse because of it.
By Gerard Conlan, OMI
