The heart is one of the most important organs in the entire human body.
It is really nothing more than a pump, composed of muscle which pumps blood
throughout the body, beating approximately 72 times per minute of our lives.
But it is the powerhouse
of human beings. Heart is so important that it
has found a place in mythology, literature and even in everyday language.
There are 154 words with heart, 61 of them begins with the word “heart.”The Heart has long been recognized across cultures as being a symbol of love, charity, joy and compassion. The "Sacred Heart" of Christ is the focus of Roman Catholic worship as a symbol of the Lord's love.
Linguistically speaking, the word "Sacred" is synonym to
"Divine" and the word "Heart" is synonym of
"Love." As such, when reference is made to the Sacred Heart, it is
understood to be a reference to the Divine love of God that echoes the sacred
nature of the Lord; "God is love." [1 Jn. 4:8] In the Sacred Heart is
revealed the undeserved love of God that was manifested through the atoning
sacrifice of Jesus for our sins. [1 Jn. 4:10].
"A wise woman who was traveling in the mountains found a precious
stone in a stream. The next day she met another traveller who was hungry, and
the wise woman opened her bag to share her food. The hungry traveller saw the
precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so without
hesitation. The traveller left, rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the
stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime.
But a few days later he came back to return the stone to the wise woman.
"I've been thinking," He said, "I know how valuable the stone
is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more
precious. Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me the
stone." That is what Jesus had given to us.
In the early days of history, God reached out and made a Covenant with a people. Over time, the Covenant was dissolved because the people turned their back to God, refusing to obey His commandments. This first Covenant was finally replaced by a second and better one that Jesus instituted on the evening prior to the suffering of His passion. Today's Second Reading from The First Letter of John [1 Jn. 4:7-16] touched on this subject. Faith in Christ and the manifestation of love towards our brothers and sisters are the twin signs of fellowship with God. If we love our brothers and sisters in Christ, we love God and we have fellowship with God. If we mistreat our brothers and sisters, we are not born of God, nor do we know God. For God is love! As children of God, we must love one another.
A
little girl was ill in hospital with a rare blood disorder and was badly in
need of a blood donor but a match could not be found. As a last resort, her six
year old brother was checked as a match and much to every ones relief, he was.
Both his mother and Doctor sat the little boy down and explained how they would like his blood to help his sister so she would not die.
The little boy waited a few moments then asked if he could think about it.
It wasn't the reaction the mother or Doctor expected but they agreed......
The following day the little boy sat in front of the Doctor with his mother and said he agreed to give his sister what she needed.
The hospital staffs moved quickly for his sister was fading quite fast.
So the little boy could understand what was happening, he was placed in a bed next to his sister and so the transfusion began. Quickly, the colour and life began flooding back into the little girl and every one was over joyed.
The little boy turned to the Doctor and quietly asked, "How long will it be before I die?"
Both his mother and Doctor sat the little boy down and explained how they would like his blood to help his sister so she would not die.
The little boy waited a few moments then asked if he could think about it.
It wasn't the reaction the mother or Doctor expected but they agreed......
The following day the little boy sat in front of the Doctor with his mother and said he agreed to give his sister what she needed.
The hospital staffs moved quickly for his sister was fading quite fast.
So the little boy could understand what was happening, he was placed in a bed next to his sister and so the transfusion began. Quickly, the colour and life began flooding back into the little girl and every one was over joyed.
The little boy turned to the Doctor and quietly asked, "How long will it be before I die?"
The little boy thought that by giving his blood, he was giving his own
life.
God's love for us was revealed through His Son, our Lord Jesus.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone
who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life." [Jn. 3:16]
Throughout His life Jesus communicated the love, the compassion, the
understanding and the forgiveness of God. The Gospel Reading concluded with the
words, "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens,
and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am
gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke
is easy, and my burden is light." [Mt. 11:28-30]
When one submits himself in humility and obedience to the Sacred Heart
of Jesus, the peace and joy that he receives in the love of God is so
overwhelming that the yoke becomes easy, the burden becomes light. The
recompense that one receives from living in the love of Jesus is so great that obstacles,
no matter how great they are, become meaningless. It comes from the heart, not
from our reason. So Jacques Benigegne Boussel Wrote, “The heart has reasons
that reason does not understand.”
Satish