Hos 11:1, 3-4, 8-9; Eph 3:8-12, 14-19; Jn 19:31-37
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?"
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.”