Hearts and Minds

My church in the early morning

So it's back to work today, and I am very excited.  (Embarrassing confession: I actually had trouble sleeping last night because I was so eager to get back. There is really nothing I'd rather be doing than teaching and talking about literature all day.)

In the spirit of a return to academics, I thought I'd share with you all a question I had when reading yesterday's Gospel reading, and perhaps those of you with more knowledge (or just a questioning mind like mine!) would like to share your thoughts?

This line struck me in particular while meditating on the passage: "Then He said to them, 'Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts?'" (Luke 24:38).  In other versions, it is translated as: "But He said, 'Why are you agitated, and why are these doubts stirring in your hearts?'" It was the word 'heart' that struck me as interesting. I don't know about you, but when I have questions and doubts, I associate them with my mind, not my heart. I figured that perhaps it was a loose translation, and 'heart' stood in for mind as well here...until I kept reading.  Just a few lines later, we come to: "Then He opened their minds to understand the scriptures" (Luke 24:45). Hmm. So why hearts in the first case and minds in the second?

My Latin is not fantastic (and my Greek is nonexistent, so I was unable to trace it all the way back), but the distinction certainly exists at least in the Latin version. Jesus specifically mentions their hearts first, and their minds/senses second:

"Et dixit eis: 'Quid turbati estis, et quare cogitationes ascendunt in corda vestra?'"

"Tunc aperuit illis sensum, ut intellegerent Scripturas."

I don't pretend to be an expert on these matters by any means, but I saw a distinction here between the part of us that feels (heart) and the part of us that thinks (mind). And I then took from it the message that we must not let ourselves get upset when we do not understand something. We are not meant to know everything and indeed cannot, and that is a message that this perfectionist sorely needed to hear. We can strive for knowledge, but knowledge of the Truth comes from and through God, and I will try to remain peaceful and content even amidst confusion. 

That does not mean we should avoid thinking and questioning and struggling with pursuits of the mind.  No, actually quite the opposite. We should question and ponder, but we must not be discouraged when we stumble upon questions we cannot answer. 

I guess this post is a perfect example of what I am trying (and, I think, failing) to express. God is too great for me to fully comprehend, and I will never know exactly why Christ made a distinction between hearts and minds in the passage cited. But I can ponder and discuss with others and think, and I can remain peaceful even with the knowledge that I can never perfectly comprehend. 

So what do you think?  Do you agree? Disagree? Why the distinction between hearts and minds in this passage? Or do you think it doesn't matter, and I am making much out of little? I am so curious, and while I am content in the fact that I will probably never know for sure, I am eager to discuss and learn and grow with you all. 

Have a blessed Monday, everyone.