ONLY A HEART SO PURE CAN TRULY CONTAIN GOD. (Homily for June 4, 2016. Immaculate Heart of Mary.)


Bible Study:  2nd Timothy 4, 1 to 8 and Luke 2, 41 to 52.


There is a saying that if you want to know how a boy thinks, talk to his mum. The influence of a mother over her boy-child cannot be overestimated. In the case of Jesus who was the only child of Mary, we cannot but acknowledge that for good thirty years of his life, Mary not only shaped but helped to form the heart that brought salvation to the world.

Of course, we know that if a child grows up in love, he becomes a tender person but if he grows up in hate, he becomes a critic. For the child Jesus to have grown up to have such a beautiful, loving and forgiving heart, it means that Mary must have also had a tender, caring, humane and pure heart.

What are the characteristics of the heart of Mary?

1. Humility. Mary was never proud. Mary acknowledged she was just a handmaid of God and she never went about seeking praise and exultation from her fellow women like the Pharisees who loved to be greeted obsequiously in the market places.

2. Silence. Mary pondered a lot of things in her heart. She practiced the act of Contemplative Prayer which some saints have described as the most perfect form of prayer. In contemplation, we do not use words but simply centre ourselves in the presence of God pondering in our hearts what he says to us.

3. Righteousness. Mary had a PURE heart. It is as a result of Mary’s outstanding sinlessness that we refer to her heart as IMMACULATE. It was this purity of heart that made God so fall in love with her as to choose her to be his mother. In the sermon on the Mount, Jesus gave us a secret; “Blessed are the Pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matthew 5, 8. Only a heart so pure can contain God as Mary did.

Mary was a virgin who knew no man. This is a virtue that needs to preached and sounded more than ever before in our world today that now sees immodesty and impurity as normal. She did not allow or entertain any form of immorality, bitterness, envy or pride. Even when she had course to be angry as we see in today’s Gospel passage, she remained calm and gentle pondering what Jesus said in her heart.

We need to learn from Mary how to guard our hearts from the defilement of evil around us. Be careful about what you read, be careful about websites you open and the pictures you allow to fill your heart. Be careful about the kind of movies you watch and even the music you listen to. Just as you cannot dwell in a stinking environment, don’t expect God to dwell in a heart that is dirty and smelling!

Lastly pray the rosary today asking that through Mary’s intercession, your heart will be cleansed.

Let us Pray: Hail Mary, full of grace, blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.


Good morning. Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. Happy Weekend.

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