“The root of love should be the very depths of your heart: Nothing but good can spring from this root.” (St. Augustine)
At first glance, this is a surprising statement by St. Augustine. It brings to mind Jesus’ words that everything unclean comes from the human heart: “For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a man.” (Mark 7:21–23)
The saint speaks of the new heart that God wishes to give us, referring to a purified heart in which God Himself has taken up residence. If our Father has come to dwell within us, then it is indeed as Augustine describes: The Spirit cries out within us, “Abba, dear Father!” Under the influence of the Holy Spirit, the heart is cleansed of everything that darkens it, and instead the gifts of the Spirit grow within us. Thus it becomes a different heart, one formed after the heart of God.
Indeed, only good will come from such a heart, for it is united with God—the source of love.
The transformation of the heart is a great work of our heavenly Father, for which we can pray. It is the necessary continuation of our spiritual journey, making our faith very fruitful and, at the same time, inviting to others.
Such a heart is a gift in which we also play a part—a person with a heart permeated by God’s love is a light for all who seek what is good and the good spirits, but a terror to the evil spirits who do not want to love.