The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (Solemnity)
I myself will look after and tend my sheep. (Ezekiel 34:11)
Highly refined photographs of the sun’s surface reveal dynamic surges of fire exploding from its surface in continuous powerful waves. We don’t have pictures of the sacred heart of Jesus, but by God’s revelation, we know that this heart, like the sun, is also a raging fire—a fire of divine love. It’s burning with charity, mercy, and forgiveness, always surging out to all of humanity.
The passionate love contained in the heart of Jesus has no beginning and no end. It is eternal, exalted far above our limited abilities to love. Nothing can stop it or dampen its fervor—not even death on a cross.
It’s this burning love that moved Jesus to do everything he could to save us and to empower us to live in his love. And yet, as high and “other” as this love is, it is also deeply personal and intimate, capable of touching us at every level of our being.
As we surrender ourselves to Jesus, as we ask him to warm our hearts with his divine love, we will begin to experience a new joy and passion, both for the Lord and for life itself. We will find ourselves wanting to spend more time in prayer, and we will begin to treasure Jesus’ words in the Gospels. Our hearts will begin to burn with the same fire of love that is in Jesus’ own heart.
St. Thérèse of Lisieux once said that the Church must have a heart and that this heart must be on fire with love. “Jesus, my love,” she cried. “At last I have found my vocation. My vocation is love!”
Something else happens when we encounter Jesus’ sacred heart: we find a deeper love for other people. The French priest and author Fr. Jean du Coeur de Jesus d’Elbée imagined that St. John, as he neared the end of his life, repeated only one teaching over and over again: “Love one another!” He said that if you want to love in this way, the only answer is to “plunge yourself into his heart and draw love out of his abyss of charity.” May we all learn to love!
“Jesus, come inflame my heart with your love. May I become as passionate for you and your people as you are for me.”
Psalm 23:1-6
Romans 5:5-11
Luke 15:3-7
Daily Marriage Tip for June 3, 2016:
Laughter reduces stress and helps connect us with others. Watch a funny movie with your spouse tonight or play a game of twister!