Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28

       I know of a man whose dad was sick. After a long day at work, this man would come home, eat dinner with his small family, and then visit his dad late at night after his wife and child were asleep. Night after night, he gathered to say the rosary with his dad, his mom, and his sisters, to ask for healing and grace to overcome the burdens that came with being sick. When his dad was in the hospital, this man watched over him, bought the meals that his dad requested, and spent time by his bedside. He spoke with the doctors, coordinated with the insurance companies, comforted his mother, and continued praying. In all that time, he continued to be a responsible and loving husband and father.

       This man is one of many who, at some point in their lives, selflessly endured heartache and exhaustion in the name of love. Their efforts do not always result in the healing of their loved ones, but they are rewarded with the peace of knowing they have loved.

       Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Let us pray for those who carry a heavy load, that in the heart of Jesus, their pain may be soothed, hurt be healed, sadness be overcome, and peace be found. Geraldine G. Catral (catral.geegee@beaconschool.ph)

Reflection:When overwhelmed with the burdens of life, run to Jesus.

Let us reflect on the Sacred Heart of Jesus and focus on the mercy of God. He looks at our sinfulness not to punish us, but to forgive us and give us His merciful love. God is not vengeful and full of wrath. He wants to draw us to Him and empower us to become who He created us to be.

6 Moses said to the people: “You are a people sacred to the Lord, your God; he has chosen you from all the nations on the face of the earth to be a people peculiarly his own. 7 It was not because you are the largest of all nations that the Lord set his heart on you and chose you, for you are really the smallest of all nations. 8 It was because the Lord loved you and because of his fidelity to the oath he had sworn to your fathers, that he brought you out with his strong hand from the place of slavery, and ransomed you from the hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. 9 Understand, then, that the Lord, your God, is God indeed, the faithful God who keeps his merciful covenant down to the thousandth generation toward those who love him and keep his commandments, 10 but who repays with destruction a person who hates him; he does not dally with such a one, but makes him personally pay for it. 11 You shall therefore carefully observe the commandments, the statutes and the decrees that I enjoin on you today.”

R: The Lord’s kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all my being, bless his holy name. 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. (R) 3 He pardons all your iniquities, he heals all your ills. 4 He redeems your life from destruction, crowns you with kindness and  compassion. (R) 8 Merciful and gracious is the Lord, slow to anger and abounding in kindness. 10 Not according to our sins does he deal with us, nor does he requite us according to our crimes. (R)

God is love and we see Him through the love that we have for one another. This truth will change our lives — the way we relate to one another and the world. But why do we often forget the love given to us and remember the sins committed against us? Let us overcome this by focusing on our love for God and one another.

7 Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. 8 Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this way the love of God was revealed to us: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might have life through him. 10 In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us. 13 This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us, that he has given us of his Spirit. 14 Moreover, we have seen and testify that the Father sent his Son as savior of the world. 15 Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in him and he in God. 16 We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us. God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him.

Jesus took on the burden of our sin and gave us a new “yoke” to bear — the Holy Spirit. This is the nature of God’s love for us – He takes on the majority of the work in our relationship and humbles us to accept His generosity. Let us pray for the grace to receive God’s mercy.

Take my yoke upon you, says the Lord; and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart.

25 At that time Jesus exclaimed: “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to little ones. 26 Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him. 28 “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

think: Is Jesus’ yoke resting lightly or pressing heavily on you? Why?

Read the Bible in one year 1 Chronicles 1-3

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

thank You, Lord, for: ______________________________________________________

THE MOST SACRED HEART OF JESUS

Sometimes I am appalled by the representations of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Statues that are more soporific than inspiring do absolutely nothing for my faith. On the other hand, when the image is good and has the capacity to draw me into the mystery it represents, the inspirational power of the image is virtually infinite. In my 24 years as a priest, the images of the Sacred Heart of Jesus have provided me with the best and worst of things of this kind.

         I remember the first time I came across what I believe is an image of the Sacred Heart, painted by someone named Venaro (that is all I can make out of the signature on the print I have). I had never seen an image of the Sacred Heart that had the power to draw me into the mystery as this one did. Similarly, the image of the Sacred Heart of Margaret Mary Alacoque found in Paray leMonial, France, has the quality that draws one into the heart of Jesus. At least, that is my experience.

         I am aware that art and beauty are very subjective realities such that what works for me may not work for you. Let us be satisfied with how the images and ideal appeal to us while respecting the choices of others. Let us also always be open to new ideas and images in the development of our faith. God, being infinite, always has the capacity to surprise us. Let us not dull our minds to the truth that God wants to draw us more deeply into the mystery of our faith. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

---------- REFLECTION QUESTIONS ----------

Have you given up on the capacity of God to capture your attention? Do you still believe He can surprise and inspire you as He has done in the past?

Jesus, I want to follow You as Your disciple. Help me to keep an open mind and heart in relation to You so that I will not miss the grace You give me to go deeper with You.