Greetings on this the Solemnity of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
Readings: Ezekiel 34:11-16; Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6.; Romans 5:5b-11; Luke 15:3-7
Note of interest
This is my 5th reflection specifically on the Solemnity of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. I make note of that as I try very hard to not be repetitive. Am I the same person as in 2020, the first reflection? I sure hope not! We age, gain in experience, holiness and our perspective changes.
Today I focus on the Joy in Heaven. In heaven the Saints share the Joy of Jesus when he has saved a human from being lost. The problem on earth is being ‘saved’ and ‘love’ have become categorial and sterile icons missing the Joy. The saintly JOY that comes from seeing another person find themselves and to be at peace. The saintly JOY of participating in the restoration of the essential of a person’s humanity.
Summary
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 (Lk 15:7). Because Jesus, the Good Shepherd, will 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 (Lk 15:4b-6).’
The sacred heart image I use is a beautiful rendering of the heart surrounded by a crown of thorns but given in hand to us. Sacred, human and divine heart of Jesus. There is no separation of his heart from ours.
Who can reflect better than a Pope? https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/20241024-enciclica-dilexit-nos.html
ENCYCLICAL LETTER DILEXIT NOS OF THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS ON THE HUMAN AND DIVINE LOVE OF THE HEART OF JESUS CHRIST
What better way to celebrate today then to read the heart-felt letter of Pope Francis, Felicis Memoriae, of happy memory.
- At the same time, the heart makes all authentic bonding possible, since a relationship not shaped by the heart is incapable of overcoming the fragmentation caused by individualism. Two monads may approach one another, but they will never truly connect. A society dominated by narcissism and self-centredness will increasingly become “heartless”. This will lead in turn to the “loss of desire”, since as other persons disappear from the horizon we find ourselves trapped within walls of our own making, no longer capable of healthy relationships. [14] As a result, we also become incapable of openness to God. As Heidegger puts it, to be open to the divine we need to build a “guest house”. [15]
Reflection
Pope Francis again: 212. We should not think of this mission of sharing Christ as something only between Jesus and me. Mission is experienced in fellowship with our communities and with the whole Church. If we turn aside from the community, we will be turning aside from Jesus. If we turn our back on the community, our friendship with Jesus will grow cold. This is a fact, and we must never forget it. Love for the brothers and sisters of our communities – religious, parochial, diocesan and others – is a kind of fuel that feeds our friendship with Jesus. Our acts of love for our brothers and sisters in community may well be the best and, at times, the only way that we can witness to others our love for Jesus Christ. He himself said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn 13:35).
Personal Reflection
Me again: The Solemnity of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus is of especially warm remembrance for me as it intimately tied to my ten years at Sacred Heart of Jesus in Lake Worth Beach, Florida. We celebrated our patron and Lord in a solemn, joyous and inclusive way. A beautiful blend of the vectors love being made known.
Pope Francis again: 28. It is only by starting from the heart that our communities will succeed in uniting and reconciling differing minds and wills, so that the Spirit can guide us in unity as brothers and sisters. Reconciliation and peace are also born of the heart. The heart of Christ is “ecstasy”, openness, gift and encounter. In that heart, we learn to relate to one another in wholesome and happy ways, and to build up in this world God’s kingdom of love and justice. Our hearts, united with the heart of Christ, are capable of working this social miracle.
Sacred Readings Full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/062725.cfm
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry