The Sacred Heart of Jesus
Scripture:
Deuteronomy 7:6-11
1 John 4:7-16
Matthew 11:25-30
Reflection:
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” Matthew 11:28 – 30
Today, we hear Jesus say, “Learn from me.”
What can we learn from Jesus? Why should we learn from Jesus? How will learning from Jesus help us be better persons? These questions lead us to everlasting life.
The answer, of course, is found in the very Person of Jesus the Christ, Son of God and Son of Mary, Word made Flesh, who laid down his life out his Personal Divine Love for each of us personally and as the People of God. God never tires of telling us how much God loves us and God never tires of demonstrating that love for us daily.
Today, on this feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Church focuses our attention on the expressions of Jesus’ unconditional love for us and then invites us to learn from him. We are called to reflect upon this pierced Heart surrounded by a crown of thorns, on fire with love, casting rays of light, as he gazes upon us, with one wounded hand pointed upward and the other at his punctured heart.
Anyone who meditates upon this image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and swoons with unctuous sweetness, has not stood at the foot of the Cross and watched him died the slow death of those crucified, or heard the curses and lies that were hurled upon him as he was unjustly condemned, or the taunts and mocking that were casted at him with hands tied, body bloodied by whips and his head crowned with thorns.
This is what redeemed love looks like. This is what unconditional love looks like. This is what unending love looks like. This is the kind of love that we are called to learn from the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Today, we are invited to walk with the Sacred Heart of Jesus as he enters the ICU wards of those dying with COVID-19, all alone. We stand in solidarity with the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the midst of millions around the world who cry for justice. Today, we join the Sacred Heart of Jesus as he knocks on the doors of those who are filled with fear, afraid for their lives. Today, the Sacred Heart of Jesus welcomes the little children, separated from their mothers and fathers, far from their native homes, whose tears flow freely day and night. Today, the Sacred Heart of Jesus is the only source of love that many dispossessed people have in their lives. Today, we are the Sacred Heart of Jesus in our world, in our communities, in our streets, in our neighborhoods, in our homes. This is our faith!
This is why we celebrate the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This feast day reminds us of how he loved us, even to the end, just because we are. What the Sacred Heart of Jesus teaches us is that we are called to love the same way the Sacred Heart of Jesus loves us.
May the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ be always in our hearts!
Fr. Clemente Barrón, C.P. is a member of Mater Dolorosa Community in Sierra Madre, California.