February 12, 2025 • 10 mins
Blessed Are the Pure in Heart: Understanding True Love and Divinity
Join Lynn Shematek, Lauren Welch, and Jon Shematek from the Good News team as they explore the beatitude 'Blessed are the pure in heart, they shall see God.' This thought-provoking episode delves into the concept of purity of heart, aligning with the heart of God, and embodying love in everyday acts of kindness. Through heartfelt discussions, the speakers emphasize the importance of recognizing the divine within ourselves and others, highlighting the motivation behind our actions and the profound impact of love on our lives and those around us. Tune in to uncover how being pure in heart transforms individuals and communities, fueling acts of love and compassion that resonate deeply and endure across generations.
00:00 Introduction to Following Jesus
00:12 Exploring the Beatitude: Blessed are the Pure in Heart
01:19 Personal Reflections on Purity of Heart
01:48 Acts of Kindness and Love
02:20 Mind and Heart: A False Dichotomy
04:09 The Power of Love as Motivation
06:31 Modern Examples of Pure Hearts
08:41 The Ripple Effect of Good Deeds
09:24 Final Thoughts and Invitation
10:05 Conclusion and Upcoming Beatitudes
10:19 Closing and Contact Information
Catch us on our website ListeningforClues.com
© 2025 Listening for Clues
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Dolores (00:00):
Following Jesus is all about following the way of love.
(00:03):
No wonder that there is a beatitudethat speaks about the heart, . So let's
dive in with our Good News team LynnShematek, Lauren Welch, and Jon Shematek.
Jon (00:12):
Our Beatitude for today is, Blessed are the pure in heart, they shall see God.
What is it that comes to mindwhen you hear that phrase,
Blessed are the pure in heart?
Lauren (00:30):
For me, A pure heart is someone who is totally
aligned with the heart of God.
Someone who has spent their lifefollowing Jesus and learning how to be
a person of love, when we come to knowthat person of love that we call God or
(00:56):
the divine, we do see that presence allaround us, and, and all creatures and all
people, I think, to be pure of heart isto be able to see the divine, First in
ourselves, if we don't see the divine inourselves, it's going to be hard to see
(01:16):
it in other people, and all creation.
Jon (01:19):
Lynn, do you have anything that pops into your mind when you
hear that phrase, pure in heart?
Lynn (01:26):
it's very interesting that what pops into my mind is a pure
act of kindness, a pure act of love.
Agree with Lauren as she was talkingabout people that, have spent their
lives trying to be pure of heart.
But then it's open to all of us.
we can do it in little ways.
(01:48):
the pure act of love doesn't haveto be to someone a stranger, it
could be to someone we loved.
what I'm saying is that all theselittle acts of kindness and love
are the things that build up andmake a whole society, pure of heart.
Jon (02:12):
they add together.
They multiply.
Some people would say, raised to a power.
Other people would say,that's pretty intense.
sometimes people make adichotomy between mind and heart.
Head and heart, which is afalse dichotomy, but people do.
there are prayers that, include a phrasewhere you're asking to be given the mind
(02:35):
of Christ, to know what God really wants.
That's what the mind ofChrist probably means.
But I like this saying becauseit's really talking about the heart.
It's talking about feelings.
perceiving with the heart.
there's just so many wayspeople think about the heart.
(02:55):
Even in older language beforeconfession in the Episcopal church,
it talked about bending the kneeof my heart to pray, to confess.
We talk about our heartshaving ears and eyes.
it's a way that we can sense.
(03:16):
and understand the universe that is muchbroader than our normal physical senses,
and much more long lasting and robust.
It doesn't fade with agelike so many things do.
this can stay as strong as ever, no matterwhat your state of age or health is.
A lot of these beatitudes soundlike you have to do something
(03:39):
first then you get something.
I don't think that works quite asmuch for this one because whatever
it means to be pure in heart enablesyou to see God in everything.
some people say being purein heart means thinking about
your motives for doing things?
What is your motivation for what you do?
(04:00):
these days, it can be many negativethings that people think about, right?
Power, money whatever, those kinds ofthings are what seems to motivate people.
But if it's love that motivates you.
That's more powerful than anything.
And that actually establishes more deeplythis relationship with the divinity.
(04:21):
this is one of my favorite Beatitudes.
there's so much promise in all ofthem But I really love the promise
of this, because it is somethingthat seems like it's not far away and
impossible to achieve It seems like it'ssomething that could be here every day.
You can see God everywhereand in everything
Lauren (04:40):
Jon, I think you're right.
I think we are called to be lovejust as God is love many people
can do that in their daily lives.
I know many who seem to alwaysbe able to love no matter
what is going on around them.
they've inspired me Totry to be more like that.
(05:02):
I'm not like that every minute.
but to embody love is, I think,who we are anyway, it's coming to
know that we are embodied love.
we're, created out of love.
And love is our essence.
(05:22):
We have to be in touch withthat love and live it out.
I think that's the work of our life,to be that love energy in the world.
Jon (05:31):
And I think Lauren, what you were saying about the person or people you
have seen, this love is really motivatingthem and is, the gift to you and any
of us If we can be open to recognizingthe power of love as we see it, I know
I tend to grade myself on everythingand rank myself, which I don't think
(05:53):
Jesus has asked us to do at all, right?
We don't get grades for how gooda Christian we are, how close
we're following the way of love.
But let's say that I'm awarethat some people just seem
to be really good at this.
They are just awesome.
You can really say, wow,that person is so loving.
I don't know if I could.
(06:14):
be that way in that samekind of circumstance.
But that's a gift to see from your heartthat this person is showing love and
that this love is coming from a verygood place and their heart is pure.
I was thinking about the people inyour own life you've known or seen.
(06:36):
it seems like the scriptures are filledwith people who are pure in heart.
a lot of them are unsung.
heroines and heroes of the scripturesthat their purity of heart led them to
become really close to God, there aremany, great leaders of the church or
(06:56):
the, Hebrew people But I'm thinking ofothers that maybe aren't the ones that
get best actor or best actress award.
They're some of the people in thebackground, but they're just showing this
incredible love that is helping others.
I think there are certainly that, butI'm with you, Lauren I see that more
in modern day life with everyday peoplecaring for each other and doing it
(07:24):
out of goodness of their heartand purity of their heart.
And you think of people thatare so involved in, doing good
works for people that are invery unfortunate circumstances.
Lauren (07:39):
Jon, as you were talking, I was thinking about all of the
people we interviewed on ourGood News podcast last year.
So many of them were reaching outto people in other countries as well
as people around them where theylive out of love, out of compassion
Jon (08:01):
yeah, you're right.
we had a lot of amazing examplesof that in our Good News
podcast, the first season we did.
it was pretty awesome.
And humbling.
one of the common threads in all ofthose 22 episodes was that love was the
force that helped overcome obstaclesthat broke down barriers between people.
(08:23):
That, and that led to Hope led to innerhealing, led to healing of the world.
So these are yeah that's just what's deepabout the concept of being pure in heart.
so much flows from that whenpeople are pure in heart.
Lynn (08:41):
People are pure in heart What it does is it allows to do
the good deeds, but then also itcomes back to help you do more.
it builds on each other becauseyou do a good deed out of love.
(09:02):
That love makes you feel so good thatyou do another good deed and another one.
Jon (09:12):
Yeah, it fuels those, doesn't it?
And I think that's when we talkabout those things in wherever
circles we happen to be.
it fuels that ability for usto show that kind of love.
What does it mean?
to be pure in heart what does thatallow to happen if one is pure in heart?
Have you witnessed any situation or personwhere someone has shown purity of heart?
(09:39):
what was the outcome of that?
Sometimes you don't get to see that.
the outcome could be generations later.
Maybe just planting someseeds as people often say.
what have you seen?
And are you ready to try, do anexperiment, try to be pure in heart in
some way, to do something for another?
Lauren (10:01):
Thank you
Jon (10:02):
Yeah, thanks for being with us.
We really enjoyed having you today.
how many more Beatitudesare there to come?
We have two more Beatitudes, to come.
So this is number six.
And each one different specialand provocative in some ways.
Lynn (10:16):
Thank you.
Lauren (10:18):
Peace and blessings
..............Dolores: This episode on the Beatitudes has been brought
to you by listening for clues.
You can find us at ourwebsite listeningforclues.com,
on our YouTube channel or on justabout any audio podcast channel.
hope to see you soon.
Following Jesus is all about following the way of love.
(00:03):
No wonder that there is a beatitudethat speaks about the heart, . So let's
dive in with our Good News team LynnShematek, Lauren Welch, and Jon Shematek.
Jon (00:12):
Our Beatitude for today is, Blessed are the pure in heart, they shall see God.
What is it that comes to mindwhen you hear that phrase,
Blessed are the pure in heart?
Lauren (00:30):
For me, A pure heart is someone who is totally
aligned with the heart of God.
Someone who has spent their lifefollowing Jesus and learning how to be
a person of love, when we come to knowthat person of love that we call God or
(00:56):
the divine, we do see that presence allaround us, and, and all creatures and all
people, I think, to be pure of heart isto be able to see the divine, First in
ourselves, if we don't see the divine inourselves, it's going to be hard to see
(01:16):
it in other people, and all creation.
Jon (01:19):
Lynn, do you have anything that pops into your mind when you
hear that phrase, pure in heart?
Lynn (01:26):
it's very interesting that what pops into my mind is a pure
act of kindness, a pure act of love.
Agree with Lauren as she was talkingabout people that, have spent their
lives trying to be pure of heart.
But then it's open to all of us.
we can do it in little ways.
(01:48):
the pure act of love doesn't haveto be to someone a stranger, it
could be to someone we loved.
what I'm saying is that all theselittle acts of kindness and love
are the things that build up andmake a whole society, pure of heart.
Jon (02:12):
they add together.
They multiply.
Some people would say, raised to a power.
Other people would say,that's pretty intense.
sometimes people make adichotomy between mind and heart.
Head and heart, which is afalse dichotomy, but people do.
there are prayers that, include a phrasewhere you're asking to be given the mind
(02:35):
of Christ, to know what God really wants.
That's what the mind ofChrist probably means.
But I like this saying becauseit's really talking about the heart.
It's talking about feelings.
perceiving with the heart.
there's just so many wayspeople think about the heart.
(02:55):
Even in older language beforeconfession in the Episcopal church,
it talked about bending the kneeof my heart to pray, to confess.
We talk about our heartshaving ears and eyes.
it's a way that we can sense.
(03:16):
and understand the universe that is muchbroader than our normal physical senses,
and much more long lasting and robust.
It doesn't fade with agelike so many things do.
this can stay as strong as ever, no matterwhat your state of age or health is.
A lot of these beatitudes soundlike you have to do something
(03:39):
first then you get something.
I don't think that works quite asmuch for this one because whatever
it means to be pure in heart enablesyou to see God in everything.
some people say being purein heart means thinking about
your motives for doing things?
What is your motivation for what you do?
(04:00):
these days, it can be many negativethings that people think about, right?
Power, money whatever, those kinds ofthings are what seems to motivate people.
But if it's love that motivates you.
That's more powerful than anything.
And that actually establishes more deeplythis relationship with the divinity.
(04:21):
this is one of my favorite Beatitudes.
there's so much promise in all ofthem But I really love the promise
of this, because it is somethingthat seems like it's not far away and
impossible to achieve It seems like it'ssomething that could be here every day.
You can see God everywhereand in everything
Lauren (04:40):
Jon, I think you're right.
I think we are called to be lovejust as God is love many people
can do that in their daily lives.
I know many who seem to alwaysbe able to love no matter
what is going on around them.
they've inspired me Totry to be more like that.
(05:02):
I'm not like that every minute.
but to embody love is, I think,who we are anyway, it's coming to
know that we are embodied love.
we're, created out of love.
And love is our essence.
(05:22):
We have to be in touch withthat love and live it out.
I think that's the work of our life,to be that love energy in the world.
Jon (05:31):
And I think Lauren, what you were saying about the person or people you
have seen, this love is really motivatingthem and is, the gift to you and any
of us If we can be open to recognizingthe power of love as we see it, I know
I tend to grade myself on everythingand rank myself, which I don't think
(05:53):
Jesus has asked us to do at all, right?
We don't get grades for how gooda Christian we are, how close
we're following the way of love.
But let's say that I'm awarethat some people just seem
to be really good at this.
They are just awesome.
You can really say, wow,that person is so loving.
I don't know if I could.
(06:14):
be that way in that samekind of circumstance.
But that's a gift to see from your heartthat this person is showing love and
that this love is coming from a verygood place and their heart is pure.
I was thinking about the people inyour own life you've known or seen.
(06:36):
it seems like the scriptures are filledwith people who are pure in heart.
a lot of them are unsung.
heroines and heroes of the scripturesthat their purity of heart led them to
become really close to God, there aremany, great leaders of the church or
(06:56):
the, Hebrew people But I'm thinking ofothers that maybe aren't the ones that
get best actor or best actress award.
They're some of the people in thebackground, but they're just showing this
incredible love that is helping others.
I think there are certainly that, butI'm with you, Lauren I see that more
in modern day life with everyday peoplecaring for each other and doing it
(07:24):
out of goodness of their heartand purity of their heart.
And you think of people thatare so involved in, doing good
works for people that are invery unfortunate circumstances.
Lauren (07:39):
Jon, as you were talking, I was thinking about all of the
people we interviewed on ourGood News podcast last year.
So many of them were reaching outto people in other countries as well
as people around them where theylive out of love, out of compassion
Jon (08:01):
yeah, you're right.
we had a lot of amazing examplesof that in our Good News
podcast, the first season we did.
it was pretty awesome.
And humbling.
one of the common threads in all ofthose 22 episodes was that love was the
force that helped overcome obstaclesthat broke down barriers between people.
(08:23):
That, and that led to Hope led to innerhealing, led to healing of the world.
So these are yeah that's just what's deepabout the concept of being pure in heart.
so much flows from that whenpeople are pure in heart.
Lynn (08:41):
People are pure in heart What it does is it allows to do
the good deeds, but then also itcomes back to help you do more.
it builds on each other becauseyou do a good deed out of love.
(09:02):
That love makes you feel so good thatyou do another good deed and another one.
Jon (09:12):
Yeah, it fuels those, doesn't it?
And I think that's when we talkabout those things in wherever
circles we happen to be.
it fuels that ability for usto show that kind of love.
What does it mean?
to be pure in heart what does thatallow to happen if one is pure in heart?
Have you witnessed any situation or personwhere someone has shown purity of heart?
(09:39):
what was the outcome of that?
Sometimes you don't get to see that.
the outcome could be generations later.
Maybe just planting someseeds as people often say.
what have you seen?
And are you ready to try, do anexperiment, try to be pure in heart in
some way, to do something for another?
Lauren (10:01):
Thank you
Jon (10:02):
Yeah, thanks for being with us.
We really enjoyed having you today.
how many more Beatitudesare there to come?
We have two more Beatitudes, to come.
So this is number six.
And each one different specialand provocative in some ways.
Lynn (10:16):
Thank you.
Lauren (10:18):
Peace and blessings
..............Dolores: This episode on the Beatitudes has been brought
to you by listening for clues.
You can find us at ourwebsite listeningforclues.com,
on our YouTube channel or on justabout any audio podcast channel.
hope to see you soon.
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