Matthew 5: 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
The Catechism has many things to say about the Beatitudes and why Jesus gave them to us. CCC 1725 says, "The Beatitudes respond to the desire for happiness that God has placed in the human heart." In other words, they show us how to live in the Spirit, focusing our gaze toward Heaven, while we continue to fight the grasping nature of our flesh here on earth.
Too often we get caught up in the busyness and distractions of life that we are often confused as to what actually makes us "happy". However, we were created with a purpose and written within our hearts is the greatest desire...To see and know God more intimately. This my friends is the highest good on this side of Heaven, and yet, how often do we find ourselves grasping for other things? How often do we seek God when we have time instead of seeking Him first? I shutter at the thought of how many times I tell God, "You aren't enough." Youch...
So to begin uncovering this power packed verse, what does it mean to be pure in heart and how can we see and know God more intimately within our heart? (CCC2520)
Live with chastity...Love with an upright and undivided heart; virtue helps us to order our flesh and desires to the highest good;
Live with purity of intention...We seek to find and to fulfill God's will in everything, not our own;
Live with purity of vision...We discipline our feelings and imagination; by refusing all complicity in impure thoughts that incline us to turn aside from the path of God's commandments. The eyes are the window to the soul, what are we consuming?
In other words, Purity of Heart is a constant work in progress...It relies on us actively cooperating with God's grace, and not on our own working, striving, and earning. Being pure of heart means we are willing to repeatedly sweep the floor, declutter, and allow God the space to take residence in our heart. Why is it essential that we make room for God? Let's look at the heart to find out...
Our spiritual heart is the center for our thoughts, actions, and words AND it's the place of encounter with our Creator. "The heart is the dwelling-place where I am, where I live; the heart is the place "to which I withdraw." The heart is our hidden center, beyond the grasp of our reason and of others; only the Spirit of God can fathom the human heart and know it fully. It is the place of truth, where we choose life or death. It is the place of encounter, because as image of God we live in relation: it is the place of covenant. (CCC 2563) Whew, I don't think we can get a better glimpse into our heart's purpose that this beautiful description.
Our heart is how we come to know God most purely. It's the place all intimacy flows. The vessel of pure love. It's the garden where our mind, will, and emotions are cultivated. When we know this and can grasp the importance of pursuing pure hearts, how can we choose to allow our hearts to be contaminated, suffocating the very dwelling of our Creator and the Spirit within us? Let us strive for one thing the rest of Lent, to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and remove the clutter in our hearts so that we can love the Lord with all of it and tell Him, "God, You are enough!"
Love & Light,
Kristi Fredieu
"A pure heart allows the love of God to flow through it for others, holding nothing for itself" - Unknown
Action: We are pursuing the virtue of Purity of Heart this week in order to know God's will
- Fast from what pulls you away from God.
- Examen your conscience, intentions, and actions. Go to confession.
- Intentionally unite your inconveniences & suffering with Jesus' in mass and offer it for someone who has strayed from their faith.
Reflect & Pray with the Song of the week
More songs that speaks to my heart...
My heart and flesh may fail The earth below give way But with my eyes, with my eyes I'll see the Lord You're still all that I need You're enough for me You're enough for me
Take this fainted heart
Take these tainted hands
Wash me in Your love
Come like grace again
You can find a new verse, virtue, song, and purposed steps every week in our devotional, Pursuing Peace. Check it out and enhance your relationship with Jesus today.