I Will Give You a New Heart

I Will Give You a New Heart”

There are many people who prepare poorly for the feast of Christmas, thinking only either of the gifts to give, the food, the decorations they will put up, the clothes, the outings with friends… Generally, such people do not believe in God and do not think of a spiritual preparation for Christmas. Sometimes some even attend Christmas Mass, but do so out of tradition; and yet there are those who prepare for Christmas from the very depths of their heart.

At Christmas it is the Word of God made flesh. We must listen to this Word of God with the attitude of Mary. Despite the efforts we are already making to follow Jesus, the Lord would like us to make new efforts to receive this new heart that he comes to give us at Christmas. We must always seek to make progress in our life with Jesus. Saint John of the Cross says, ‘in the spiritual life there is no standing still: whoever does not advance goes backward.’

We must welcome the new heart that Jesus brings us at Christmas. This heart is a holy heart. If our heart is holy, we will be holy, for from the heart come forth good or evil actions. The new year that is beginning is thus a call to put out into the deep. “Be holy as your heavenly Father is holy” (Mt 5:48). The call to holiness is addressed to all without exception. We must not be content with our life.

The true pillars of the Church are saints. Evangelization must insist on mission and holiness. When we evangelize, we communicate holiness to others. Every aspect of the services in the God’s Word groups should contribute to holiness.

“The pure of heart will see God” (Mt 5:8). If I want to go to heaven, I must aim higher. There have been very great sinners who became saints after their conversion. Not all the saints began well, but they ended well. Nothing is impossible for God. Mt 8:2: “If you will, you can make me clean.” There is no need to do anything extraordinary. Mt 5:13-17: “You are in the world, but you are not of the world.” Holiness is the vocation of us all. To live the Word of God, that is what it means to be holy. Holiness is first of all a desire, a disposition. Holiness must be the call of us all. To desire holiness is to have a new heart.

Diane Moukam