Devotion to the Sacred Heart of
Jesus is not a peripheral devotion, but it is to honour and love God which is
the heart of our faith and is centred on the heart of Jesus as the emblem of
Divine love.
The devotion to the Sacred Heart
of Jesus is deeply rooted in the life of Christian people and is practiced in
the universal Church.
It is devotion to Jesus Christ
Himself, as we meditate on his interior life and on His threefold love: His
divine love, His burning love that fed His human will, and His sensible love
that affects His interior life.
The devotion to the Sacred Heart
began on Calvary when the Heart of Christ was pierced on the Cross; it opened
the door to realizing how deeply Jesus loves us. In return, he wants nothing
other than our total love.
He promised to bless those places
wherein the image of the Sacred Heart will be exposed and venerated and will
give to priests the power to touch the most hardened hearts. We have the own
words of Jesus for the fact that our Lord’s love for us is a sweet yoke and a
light burden for us to carry.
For us Christians, the word
“Sacred Heart of Jesus” symbolizes the divine love of Jesus. Today’s readings explain the meaning of
Divine love. It is a love that flows from God towards us, through our spiritual
growth by the sanctifying power and grace of the Holy Spirit.
In the First Reading from the
Book of Ezekiel, the Lord tells us that he himself will search for his sheep,
just as shepherds seek out their flocks from among scattered sheep. These words are repeated in Psalm 23, where
the Lord says: “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down
in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters.”
The Second Reading of today tells
us that God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that
has been given to us. Secondly, Christ
died for us sinners, always fulfilling what is holy and praiseworthy for the
glory of God. Thirdly, while, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, to
prove His love for us, and we still were sinners, Christ died for us. Fourthly,
having been justified by the Blood of Christ, we will obtain our salvation, our
adoption as children of God, and eternal life in the Kingdom of God. Finally,
having been reconciled to God through the death of Jesus.
The Gospel Reading places before
us the Parable of the Lost Sheep. This parable shows the Divine love of the
Good Shepherd towards his sheep and he goes in search of the lost one. The
Divine Love of the Good Shepherd is infinite love and far-reaching love that
does not want any one person to be lost.
The words of Jesus in the Gospel
about God’s love and care for us must be the most comforting and reassuring
ever spoken on this earth. God reveals His love, not to the learned or the
sophisticated – but to those who are humble enough to listen.
Further, today’s Gospel contains
Jesus’ wonderful invitation: “Come to me all you who labour and are burdened
and I will give your rest”. Jesus never
forces; rather he gently invites.
He says: Come! Come especially if
you are burdened – whether it’s by sickness, sadness, grief, guilt,
disappointment, pain, fear, depression, despair. Come! And I will give you
rest. That’s His promise.
Learn from me, says Jesus to us.
Let us learn humility from Jesus who is gentle and humble thus will find rest
for our souls. Peace of souls is the ultimate prize – the peace of Christ that
surpasses all understanding – that’s what matters. Therefore we have the ready
promise of Jesus of perfect rest if we come to him.
The Heart of Jesus is SACRED
because:
It is PURE: without sin
It is KIND: full of compassion
It is MERCIFUL: forgives
countlessly
It is LOVING: cares affectionately
It is GENEROUS: gives abundantly
It is GRACIOUS: pours blessings
It is UNDERSTANDING: feels for
others…
Today, let us express our love to
this sacred Heart to whom are families are consecrated and place our total
trust in him and run to him in our problems and needs. This sacred heart which
is burning with love for us will protect us and care for us and give us peace
and tranquility.
Christ, in his appearances to
Margaret Mary, has promised many blessings to those who practice devotion to
his Sacred Heart. Accordingly, Jesus promises all the graces necessary for
their state of life; peace in their families; consolation in all their
troubles; their refuge in life and especially in death; abundantly bless all
their undertakings; he will be an infinite ocean of mercy.
May our hearts also burn with
Love for Him,
May Heart of Jesus bless all our
Families…
- @Avinash Bitra OFM Cap.
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