‘A clean heart create for me, O God’

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

THAT’S from Psalm 51,12 that is often used as Responsorial Psalm in some Holy Masses. It’s a psalm that is worth keeping in mind always because in the end our real identity and condition can only be found in our heart. We should try our best that our heart be as clean and pure as possible, reflecting the very heart of Christ that is full of love.

We really need to take good care of our heart, which means that we should anchor it on Christ, since we are patterned after him. Thus, in the Book of Proverbs, we have this invitation from God, “My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes delight in my ways.” (23,26) This invitation should be clear in our mind and heart, and we should do everything to be able to correspond to that invitation properly.

Nowadays when our heart is glutted with so many worldly things, it is really a tall order to say, yes, to this invitation. But with God’s grace, which we can always receive with due humility on our part, there is no doubt that we can do it.

Obviously, to get a handle on our heart, we first of all need to go to God. Our human powers alone can never be enough. They can even be dangerous, since they are often very limited and, worse, erratic.

This is where strict self-discipline is most needed. We cannot deny the fact that we are often dominated by passions inside us and fashions outside us. We have our usual weaknesses of pride, laziness, attachments, etc. Thus, we need to undertake a continuing struggle, using all kinds of spiritual armory to wage this daily battle and aim at nothing less than conquering our heart for Christ.

Things may look difficult and unwinnable, but with faith, with persistence and God’s abundant grace, we can actually manage. Besides, there is deep within us a natural longing for God. Remember St. Augustine’s words: “My heart is restless until it finds its rest in You.” The natural attraction of our heart, if not corrupted, is God.

If we don’t complicate our heart, we can easily be led to God because he is where all good comes from. If we can just discipline ourselves and allow ourselves to be guided by faith and reason, we can always find God.

He is not someone who takes delight in hiding from us. His presence is everywhere. Christ himself assured us: “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Mt 28,20)

And when we manage to keep our heart clean, then we can experience what Christ said in one of the Beatitudes: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Mt 5,8)

Imagine how it will be when we manage to see God in everything and at all times because we strive to make our heart clean and pure! To be sure, God is never sparing in giving everything that we need to make our heart clear and pure. Things would just depend on how we correspond to what God is giving us.

Everyday, we have to see to it that we strive to keep our heart clean and pure. We should never let it float in any which way. We have to see to it that our heart increasingly gets united to God until it is fully identified with him. As said earlier, we have all the means to achieve that goal.

Thus, we have to constantly ask the question: “Where do I give my heart? To whom do I give myself completely?” And let’s be ready with the correct answer.

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com