An excerpt of the Pope’s homily delivered early today in Mexico. What does it mean to be pure of heart? Why do I want a purity of heart?
“A pure heart, create for me, O
God” (Ps 50:12) during the responsorial psalm. This exclamation shows us
how profoundly we must prepare to celebrate next week the great mystery of the
passion, death and resurrection of the Lord. It also helps us to look deeply
into the human heart, especially in times of sorrow as well as hope, as are the
present times for the people of Mexico and of Latin America.
God” (Ps 50:12) during the responsorial psalm. This exclamation shows us
how profoundly we must prepare to celebrate next week the great mystery of the
passion, death and resurrection of the Lord. It also helps us to look deeply
into the human heart, especially in times of sorrow as well as hope, as are the
present times for the people of Mexico and of Latin America.
The desire for a
heart that would be pure, sincere, humble, acceptable to God was very much felt
by Israel as it became aware of the persistence in its midst of evil and sin as
a power, practically implacable and impossible to overcome. There was nothing
left but to trust in God’s mercy and in the hope that he would change from
within, from the heart, an unbearable, dark and hopeless situation. In this way
recourse gained ground to the infinite mercy of the Lord who does not wish the
sinner to die but to convert and live (cf. Ez 33:11). A pure heart, a new
heart, is one which recognizes that, of itself, it is impotent and places
itself in God’s hands so as to continue hoping in his promises. Then the
psalmist can say to the Lord with conviction: “Sinners will return to
you” (Ps 50:15). And towards the end of the psalm he will give an
explanation which is at the same time a firm conviction of faith: “A
humble, contrite heart you will not spurn” (v. 19).
heart that would be pure, sincere, humble, acceptable to God was very much felt
by Israel as it became aware of the persistence in its midst of evil and sin as
a power, practically implacable and impossible to overcome. There was nothing
left but to trust in God’s mercy and in the hope that he would change from
within, from the heart, an unbearable, dark and hopeless situation. In this way
recourse gained ground to the infinite mercy of the Lord who does not wish the
sinner to die but to convert and live (cf. Ez 33:11). A pure heart, a new
heart, is one which recognizes that, of itself, it is impotent and places
itself in God’s hands so as to continue hoping in his promises. Then the
psalmist can say to the Lord with conviction: “Sinners will return to
you” (Ps 50:15). And towards the end of the psalm he will give an
explanation which is at the same time a firm conviction of faith: “A
humble, contrite heart you will not spurn” (v. 19).
