I had a spiritual director who wanted me to have “purity of intention.” I was never sure how to do that since my intentions were a mixture of a desire to love God while at the same time taking care of myself. Ultimately, striving for purity of intention concerns our hearts. Jesus taught “what comes out of the man, that is what defiles him. From within the man, from his heart, come evil thoughts. Doing the right thing is not the goal — it is doing the right thing for the right reason that matters most. For example, giving a birthday present because they gave you one last year is the wrong motivation. We give a present out of love, not to get something in return.
