A Call for Purity

​by: Atty. Carolina Lim-Gamban

"Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and consciences are corrupted.” These are the words of Saint Paul to Titus as Paul gives instructions how to live a life worthy of our call – one that is pleasing before God.
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Nowadays, with the chaos, corruption, and different kinds of immorality happening all around, one is bombarded with temptations to do some things that are not right before the eyes of God, the law, and the people. When these happen, purity is our best defense. Purity will allow us to resist the temptation because it has no hold on us or strings attached to us. For instance, our pure and genuine love for our spouses will deter us from any thoughts of cheating or even in entertaining any other man or woman that can destroy our marriage. Thomas Kempis said that, “He who loves with purity considers not the gift of the lover but the love of the giver.” As we value the sanctity of marriage, both the husband and wife, as partners, will protect the family from any intruders or homewreckers.  “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.” This reminds us that impurity in marriage shall have a negative, if not tragic, consequences.

Purity will also guard us from the temptations of misusing the money that is entrusted to us, and protect us from greed that will further lead to corruption. When one malverse the funds of the people, purity is not within. When one functions as treasurer, finance officer, or disbursing officer, there is greater accountability as people or the Authorities put their trust to the holder or keeper of moneys as good stewards. It is a blatant disregard of duty when these accountable officers are the ones who misuse or malverse the funds since they should be the one protecting the purse, first and foremost. When this happens, one holding the public office may be dismissed from service, or worse, be imprisoned. Republic Acts numbers 3019 (Anti-graft and Corrupt practices Act), 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees), 9160 (Anti-Money Laundering Act) and the Revised Penal Code, are just some of the laws that we can reflect on to do away with public officials mishandling funds. For private entities, estafa, and the abovementioned laws may be applicable if they are in connivance with the public officials. If we are clean in handling finances, there is no need to worry. Anytime we are audited, it is cleanly transparent and transparently clean.

Purity will also cause our hearts to be on check as we reflect if we have done something that offended other people or if we have done something that ran contrary to our conscience. Without purity, our conscience may be seared and it would be difficult to distinguish the right from the wrong. With purity, our steps will be properly guided because we only hold on to the truth, to what is right, and to what is blameless, making our moral compass to point to the True North.

We then, encourage everyone to cleanse our selves from any impurity. If we have committed some things that are not pleasing before God’s eyes, let us ask for God’s forgiveness and mercy. Turn back from our wicked ways and return to what is right, godly, and pure. It is written that if we cleanse our selves from impurities, we will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. Let us then be vessels of purity, vessels of honor, fit for the Master’s use.