The struggle for purity of heart requires keeping one’s heart free from anything that can harm it by causing it to lose its capacity for love. This is true especially of negative thoughts: judgements, bitterness, sadness, worry, etc. Scripture points to a strong connection between the heart and thought, and speaks often of the thoughts of the heart. Thought gives direction to the heart and determines action, which is why it is important. Jesus says, Whatever goes into a man from outside cannot make him unclean. …It is what comes out of a man that makes him unclean. It is not the things that come to us from outside us that do us harm, but our interior reaction, starting with our thoughts. It is unavoidable that we should react negatively to sufferings and deceptions and shocking events of all sorts. But it is imperative that we not give free rein to these thoughts, not dwell on them, but should displace them with positive thoughts of faith, hope, and love. This is an essential aspect of the spiritual struggle….
Suffering easily becomes accusation, bitterness, judgement, pessimism, discouragement, worry, etc. This, not suffering itself, is what darkens the soul and causes harm. Thus, in difficult times we need to keep our hearts pure by tending to our thoughts. It is certainly not easy, but it is necessary.
In particular we should be vigilant in regard to judgemental thoughts about others and anxious thoughts….
Here is a consideration that may make this struggle easier. The Beatitude Happy are the pure of heart because they will see God could be turned the other way around: Happy are those who see God, for they will keep their hearts pure. The most powerful safeguard of a pure heart is the spirit of faith by which we see Gods hand in everything that comes to us… This is what the saints did, and made them free. In a letter to her sister Agnes , Theresa of Lisieux compares herself with a weak reed, but one that cannot break no matter what happens to it, it only wants to see the gentle hand of its Jesus.
Father Philippe is a French priest, a member of the Community of the Beatitudes, and a renowned spiritual director.