Today we observe the transferred Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.
From the autobiography of Saint Margret Mary we are told: “Behold this Heart which so loved men that it held nothing back, exhausting itself, consuming itself in order to show them its love. And in exchange, I receive from the many only ingratitude, through their irreverence and sacrilege, through their coldness and the contempt they have for me in this Sacrament of love.”
Saint Peter Julian Eymard further sums up our lack of love towards our Blessed Lord: “In the Blessed Sacrament, he could not be more loving! He is not even known, not even by a great many of those who are his own. He has some good apostolic servants, a few pious adorers in his service. But how few spouses he has! How few friends even! Who visit him out of affection! Who converse from the heart, who are devoted purely to him!”
The Second Vatican Council states that “the Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life.” From the Eucharist we see the love that Christ pours out for His bride who is the Church. To think of the many parish churches throughout the world which contain the great gift which is the Eucharist. That in each of these tabernacles dwells Christ who is present with us Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. Despite this reality how many rush in and rush out of Mass without preparation? How many want nothing to do with the Sacrament of Confession? How many fail to keep the church a place of prayer because they have lost sight of Christ who dwells with us here?
Of all the parishes gathered throughout the world there is a lot of traffic. There are so many cars and people that rush past this place each day. Only if they knew the great love which is contained within these walls. Each person rushing past this place has so many longings; all of which can be fulfilled here in the church in the presence of the Most Holy Eucharist.
As we come to celebrate this Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus we must come to understand His immense love for each of us. His Heart beats with great love for each of us; we only have to look to the cross if we want to see this reality displayed to us in greater detail. Despite this immense outpouring of love so many, including us, want nothing to do with this love. We favor sin, we are in a rush, we are indifferent to the great gifts which God has poured out for each of us.
Upon the image of the Sacred Heart we notice the thorns which wrap the heart of Christ. These thorns are this sinfulness and ingratitude. Nevertheless, we must remember that our Lord is merciful with each of us. The mercy of the Lord endures forever.
Let us thus turn our heart towards that of our Blessed Lord. May we allow Him to wrap us in His mercy. May we spread the message of the mercy to all those whom we encounter in order that they may realize the merciful heart of Christ. Let homes become beacons of this love through our enthronement of them to the Sacred Heart.
