His mother kept all these things in her heart

One of the beatitudes says, "Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God" (Mt 5:8).

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Today we celebrate the memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. It follows yesterday's solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

The feast invites us to contemplate the Blessed Mother whose immaculate heart is so intertwined with that of her Son. That she possesses an immaculate heart is not surprising as she was also immaculately conceived, that is, free from the stain of original sin, thus free of evil desires, and only full of love and tenderness.

We, on the other hand, are born into this world with the stain of original sin which, however, is washed away at our baptism so that we are born to new life as followers of Jesus.

As babies and infant, and even as little children, we were immune from the evil influences of the world. But as we grow older, we cannot escape the lure of the world and defile our hearts with evil intentions and even evil conduct. The sacraments, thankfully, are there to help us, purify ourselves and redirect us to our original pure selves. But we know we struggle and fall every now and then.

First Reading - Gn 18:1-15