The whole month of June, though we do not hear much of it, is traditionally dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Today we celebrate the feast of the Sacred Heart we are reminded of the heart of God and His love for every single man, woman and child. The heart is the centre of a person, the place from which he/she makes the choices which will affect the world within them and around them. Devotion to the Heart of Jesus reminds us that it is in His Sacred Humanity that we find the pattern for becoming fully human ourselves. We are invited to spend time reflecting on what it really means to live our lives in such a way that we reveal the Loving Heart of a Merciful God to the whole a world that is steeped in darkness – that is fragmented and broken.
We would do well to rediscover something of the depth of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Where there is love and loving kindness God is present. Through the symbol of the heart, we are drawn to the love of God, telling us, God loves us all, all of us always, not only does He love us He longs and rejoices in our love. Jesus reveals to us that God is not cold, is not distant but has a warm loving concern for us and all of creation…. God is as accessible as our next chat over a cup of coffee.
Can you survive without a heart? Could your life be lived without love? The Sacred Heart and the love in it is not some kind of Valentine’s Day from God, it is about faithfulness it is about Jesus having His Heart pierced by a lance for you and me.
In our world filled with violence with hate and desperation we learn from the Sacred Heart that together with Jesus we are capable of love, of walking an extra mile with people who are hurting and overburdened and in Jesus name be a caring presence, we become a beneficial presence in our society in our parish. Living as God meant us to live we understand what is ours, our humanity, living from the heart. The main source of our happiness and our pain are relationships.
Once in a while we meet persons after the heart of Jesus where we feel cleansed, affirmed and inspired to walk towards greater compassion. These are the persons who have walked a genuine inner journey that gives them grace and a glow, that those who live with them can notice that. Pope Francis is the Jesus of today. He is a man of endless compassion of soft wisdom of seemingly limitless giving, giving from the heart, in his tears, his hugs, his phone calls and abiding faith in the heart of Jesus and the human heart that is in pain.
Let us take to heart the rich meaning of this ancient devotion; let us allow ourselves to be struck by the love of Christ in the ordinary moments of our lives. May we be transformed by the knowledge that we are loved and respond with gratitude to love in return.
In our burdensome days we can be sure to have a Heart that holds us and comforts us.
