Heart of Jesus, make our hearts like unto yours…
June 3, 2005 Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (A) - White
First Reading: Deuteronomy 7:6-11
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 103
"The Lord’s kindness is everlasting to those who fear him."
Second Reading: 1 John 4:7-16
Gospel: Matthew 11:25-30
Liturgical Texts in Honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus:
1) Prayers of the Faithful (text from liturgical novena)
2) Prayer to the Sacred Heart*
3) Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart*
4) Litany of the Sacred Heart*
*to be prayed after Post-communion Prayer
"God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him."
The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus is overflowing with tender love and mercy. This is explained to us though the preface of today’s Eucharistic celebration: "Lifted 
high on the cross, Christ gave his life for us, so much did he love us." Imagine the love shown by Christ to us - giving his very own life for the salvation of the world. This is the one and only true love that humanity has ever seen in the history of its existence. Jesus can say "no" to the Father and just make magic - he can say "Ahhh…Let me make a replica of myself and place it there on the cross so that men might know that I’m there, though I’m not." He can say that. But he chose to place himself there, on the cross, to execute and show the world what true love is. And exactly, he showed us the greatest love of all for he is love. Jesus, himself, is love. Why? If we remember the mystery of the Trinity, we said that the Trinity is love, and each member of the Holy Trinity is love, equal with each other. Therefore, the second person of the one Godhead is LOVE and this person is Jesus. This is the solemnity we celebrate today - the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart - the solemnity of Jesus’ overflowing and unwavering love for all of us.
We contionue to reflect on today’s preface: "To his open heart the Savior invites all men and women, to draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation." Jesus’ heart is open. Not literally, exposed to air naked, but welcomes each and everyone of us to himself. That’s why in today’s gospel, he invites us to come to him, "all you who labor and are burdened," because he will "give you rest." His heart gives rest to those who are murdered because of their belief in God, drastically wounded because of their faith, and extremely exhausted because of their journey in faith. And when people come to his heart, when people knock at the heart of Christ, Jesus will always answer them. And when they enter the heart of Jesus, they will draw waters of eternal salvation - they will draw rest. They will be able to churcn the lessons that the Church teaches. Jesus will love them. And in return, they will obviously learn to love Jesus and remain inside his heart forever. By the way, everyone and anyone is welcomed to the heart of Jesus, not only those who suffer and righteous, but everyone who is willing to change in Christ’s name.
These things that we talked about are the basics in understanding the mystery of the Sacred Heart. As a summary, the Sacred Heart is merely Jesus’ total self-giving to us - his intimate and extreme LOVE for humanity. Let us also learn to LOVE others as Jesus showed his LOVE for us all. May God bless us all and welcome us to the heart of his Son. Amen.
A Piece to Reflect on…
THE TWELVE PROMISES OF THE SACRED HEART TO ST. MARGARET MARY ALCOQUE
01) "I will give them all the graces necessary in their state of life.
02) I will establish peace in their homes.
03) I will comfort them in all their afflictions.
04) I will be their secure refuge during life, and above all, in death.
05) I will bestow abundant blessings upon all their undertakings.
06) Sinners will find in my Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.
07) Lukewarm souls shall become fervent.
08) Fervent souls shall quickly mount to high perfection.
09) I will bless every place in which an image of my Heart is exposed and honored.
10) I will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts.
11) Those who shall promote this devotion shall have their names written in my Heart.
12) I promise you in the excessive mercy of my Heart that my all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on the First Fridays in nine consecutive months the grace of final perseverance; they shall not die in my disgrace, nor without receiving their sacraments. My divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment."
Prayer…
Heart of Jesus, make our hearts like unto yours.
