Today (6/23) the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Once considered a holyday of obligation, it is a "moveable feast" that falls on the Friday following the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi).
While not as commonly well-known as Easter or Christmas, the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a holy day that is so relevant to our "Age of Information"; an age that is also an age of anxiety, fear, insecurity and despair. Every year more than a million and a half Americans suffer heart attacks. Heart failure is the leading cause of death in America today. Heart failure is also the most avoidable cause of death because long before the patient is rushed to the emergency room trouble has been going on in the heart: in the fearful heart, the anxious heart, the discouraged heart, the lonely heart, the rejected heart, the angry heart and the sinful heart. A major cause of all of this heart trouble could very likely spring from the failure to know and trust the meek and humble Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Which is all the more a shame, because besides the physical heart of Jesus that was pierced for our sins, it is also a very powerful symbol of the love that God holds for us. Jesus was divine, the Son of God. He was also human, the son of Mary. He spoke with divine authority, but he spoke in terms that us limited humans could understand. Often using parables, common everyday situations that gave profound truths, Jesus spoke in the simple language of ordinary people of his day about the things they were most familiar with: the birds of the air, the lilies of the field, the sower and the seed, the vine and the branches. When he wanted to tell his apostles how important they were he said that they were the “light of the world” and the “salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13-16). And when he wanted to tell us of God’s love for us he used the heart, the human symbol of love. He told us that we should learn of him that he was meek and humble of heart and we would find rest for our souls.
The Sacred Heart of Jesus reminds us of the undying faithfulness of God's love. When we are most in need of it, we can remember that God loves us unconditionally with a love we cannot earn or ever be worthy of. And He loves us for ourselves, not as we should be, or possibly could be, but as we are with all of the physical warts, psychological quirks and spiritual weaknesses.
In addition to providing comfort, it also presents us with a challenge. Jesus shed his blood and died not only for us and for those we love, but also for those we're not very fond of - maybe even some we outright hate. Just as Jesus gave so much for us, we are expected to also give as much of ourselves (ideally, all that we are as Jesus did, but certainly as much as is humanly possible) to build up and advance our spiritual siblings to the undying and supportive love that God hold for all of us. Are we up to the challenge and, if not, have we turned to our heavenly Father for help, strength and courage to do so?
Which is all the more a shame, because besides the physical heart of Jesus that was pierced for our sins, it is also a very powerful symbol of the love that God holds for us. Jesus was divine, the Son of God. He was also human, the son of Mary. He spoke with divine authority, but he spoke in terms that us limited humans could understand. Often using parables, common everyday situations that gave profound truths, Jesus spoke in the simple language of ordinary people of his day about the things they were most familiar with: the birds of the air, the lilies of the field, the sower and the seed, the vine and the branches. When he wanted to tell his apostles how important they were he said that they were the “light of the world” and the “salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13-16). And when he wanted to tell us of God’s love for us he used the heart, the human symbol of love. He told us that we should learn of him that he was meek and humble of heart and we would find rest for our souls.
The Sacred Heart of Jesus reminds us of the undying faithfulness of God's love. When we are most in need of it, we can remember that God loves us unconditionally with a love we cannot earn or ever be worthy of. And He loves us for ourselves, not as we should be, or possibly could be, but as we are with all of the physical warts, psychological quirks and spiritual weaknesses.
In addition to providing comfort, it also presents us with a challenge. Jesus shed his blood and died not only for us and for those we love, but also for those we're not very fond of - maybe even some we outright hate. Just as Jesus gave so much for us, we are expected to also give as much of ourselves (ideally, all that we are as Jesus did, but certainly as much as is humanly possible) to build up and advance our spiritual siblings to the undying and supportive love that God hold for all of us. Are we up to the challenge and, if not, have we turned to our heavenly Father for help, strength and courage to do so?
There is in the Sacred Heart the symbol and express image of the infinite love of Jesus Christ which move us to love in return.
Our FORMED Recommendation for the Week
Retreat Series: Consoling the Heart of Jesus https://formed.org/study/54f4d01e65f211981622a782
An excellent resource to be enjoyed over for brief sessions over several days, these roughly 30-minute video sessions with accompanying free downloadable materials are part of the 33 Days to Morning Glory exercise. Consoling the Heart of Jesus discusses God's infinite mercy and how we can give him joy, consoling his heart, by accepting his love and trusting in him completely. Going further into this can provides insights into how suffering can actually help in growing spiritually closer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
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