LEARN FROM THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS - 6/24/22 (Solemnity of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus)

Luke 15:3-7

Jesus addressed this parable to the Pharisees and scribes: "What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance."

For the full readings, click here: 

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/062422.cfm

For more information on the revelation of the Sacred Heart to St. Margaret, click here:

https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/the-revelation-of-the-sacred-heart-of-jesus-paral-le-monial-france-13719

For the examination of conscience and guide to confession, click here:

https://mycatholic.life/catholic-prayers/examination-of-conscience/

Blessed Solemnity of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus! When we look at the image of Christ's heart, it is similar to our Crucified Lord. His Sacred Heart had lashes and crown of thorns, and His Heart was pierced at the side. Why is this image similar to what happened with Jesus? It's because this is a symbolism of the Divine and Human love of Jesus for us. His Sacred Heart loves us that our Lord was willing to lay His own life for His sheep, but what we return to Him is our sins. The sufferings that the Sacred Heart of Jesus experienced because of our sins, negligence, and ingratitude to Him were worse than the physical sufferings that He endured in His Passion. 

And yet, His Most Sacred Heart teaches us how to be humble and how to love. Humility is the foundation of all virtues, and love is the queen of all virtues. We cannot separate humility with love. Jesus is calling us to be a loving person and a humble person like Him. Even though our sins offended Him, He still chose to love us and offer Himself as a Sacrifice. As we read in the gospel reading, He looks for us, His lost sheep. Why did He still do this when we are hurting Him? It's because of His love for us. His love that comes from His gentle and humble Heart is a pure love in such a way that His love is unconditional. He does not love only those who love Him. He loves us, most especially because we are in need of His mercy and salvation. 

In the parable, Jesus tells us that He sets on His shoulder the sheep that He has found. Our Savior loves us so much that the shoulder which was injured for carrying the cross is the same shoulder that carries us to the Father. When we become guilty of pride, use the name of the Lord in vain and commit other sins, the Sacred Heart of Jesus is hurt and becomes wounded because we are rejecting His love. And yet, this same Heart keeps finding us and protects us from the temptations of the world. No matter how dark our past is and no matter how many mistakes we made in the past, the Sacred Heart of Jesus is always inviting us to repentance and reconciliation with Him, especially through the sacrament of confession. 

How about us? Do we imitate the humility and the love of His Most Sacred Heart? It's natural for us to be angry with someone who wounds our own heart. But, Jesus is always reminding us that the more we see the faults of other people, the more we should love them. We should not love solely because we are loved by them. In reality, we do not need the praises and approval of other people because God's love for us is more than enough. He pours His mercy that overflows in our hearts. A sign that we are becoming more humble is when we become more patient and gentle towards those who always oppose us. There will be great joy in heaven for people who accepted His Mercy and who learned from His love and humility. 

Amen +

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, be with us always until the hour of our death. Amen. +

 

May the Lord + bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. Amen. +  

Reflection by: Dominic