Reflections for the Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Part I)
Daily Gospel Reflections for the Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
May 25 to June 2, 2005
Part I: Week 1: May 25-28, 2005
May 25, 2005 Wednesday of the 8th Week in Ordinary Time (Year I) - Green
First Reading: Sirach 26:1,4-5a,10-17
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 79
"Show us, O Lord, the light of your kindess!"
Gospel: Mark 10:32-45
"Think of the Son of Man who has not come to be served but to serve and to give his life to redeem many."
It is fitting that we start our novena masses to the Sacred Heart with the imagery of Christ as the Servant Leader and Redeemer. Christ is the King of all nations. But he is a different type of king - he is the king that SERVES. Service is his gift to us, just as what he promised and inaugurated at the Last Supper table - washing the feet of his disciples. When did you see a king wash the feet of his subordinates? He has come into this world to SERVE but not to be served. He served us, not only by his ministry, but with the greatest act of love and service in this world - dying for our sins and redeeming us from the corruption of hell. This is the promise of the Sacred Heart for us - the immense love of Christ for us by "washing our feet" and "dying for our sins." This is indeed the mystery of our celebration today and the next days to come.
May 26, 2005 St. Philip Neri, Priest (Year I) - White
First Reading: Sirach 42:15-25
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 33
"By the word of the Lord the heavens were made"
Gospel: Mark 10:46-52
"Go your way, your faith has made you well."
Often, we are blinded by our own beliefs. Graver than this is when the devil tempts us and we fall into this greater temptation. This is when we get blinded in faith. We become like the old man in today’s gospel; the only difference is that we are blinded spiritually.
We can’t do anything about the fact that worldy pleasures, earthly possessions and material stuff are simply around us. But what we could do is to humble ourselves and think of the greater life that we will experience after our earthly life. When we pray and repent and go back to the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ will simply test our faith. Then, when we show that great faith, and when he is already contented with what we show, the Lord will simply tell us: "Go your way, your faith has made you well."
This should be our attitude as Christians. We should live and show our faith in others.
May 27, 2005 Friday of the 8th Week in Ordinary Time (Year I) - Green
First Reading: Sirach 44:1,9-13
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 149
"The Lord takes delight in his people."
Gospel: Mark 11:11-26
"Forgive whatever you may hold against anyone, so that your heavenly Father may also forgive your sins."
Forgiveness is the key to being forgiven. The sacrament of Reconciliation teaches us that the greatest forgiveness given to man is that of being forgiving. Certainly, we feel great when we go to the sacrament of confession and the priest gives us the absolution from our sins. However, the greatest confession that one can ever receive is to forgive others - there is this great feeling of peace and serenity when we forgive - greater than being forgiven of our sins. This is also true with the Father. "…and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us." (cf. Pater Noter) He forgives our sins when we forgive others. This is the basic doctrine of our sacramental confession.
The most Sacred Heart of Jesus is overflowing with infinite mercy and love. His heart gives us forgiveness from our sins and he never runs out of mercy. He welcomes sinners as well. The Sacred Heart of Jesus is for everyone, for both sinners and righteous, believers and non-believers as well.
May 28, 2005 Saturday of the 8th Week in Ordinary Time (Year I) - Green
First Reading: Sirach 51:12cd-20
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 19
"The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart."
Gospel: Mark 11:27-33
"I will ask you a question, only one, and if you give me an answer, then I will tell you what authority I have to act like this."
This condition Jesus raised to the elders of the temple and chief priests of Jerusalem. This was meant to entrap these people for if they answer that John’s preachings were of God, they didn’t follow them; but when they answer that the preachings were humane, then they are to be mocked by the people because of their belief that John is a prophet of God. The chief priests and elders played safe. Since they played safe, Jesus did not give them any answer too. These Jewish elders did not accept Jesus, anyway. So they do not and will never understand Jesus.
This is our call as Christians for today. Do we accept Jesus? There are just 3 simple answers to that simple question. If we do, then we would gladly understand him and live in his teachings. If we don’t, then we will never see nor understand him. If we play safe, like the Jewish elders, Jesus will not fully reveal himself to us and we may never understand fully his authority and persona.
However, Jesus is open for everyone. He is merely waiting for us to knock at his door.
Some liturgical notes…
1. May 29 is the Solemnity of Corpus et Sangue Christi. This is also the 5th day of the Novena to the Sacred Heart.
2. For the Novena Prayer, refer to this website from EWTN: http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/heart/meditation.htm
