Jesus’ HEART loved us as no other heart ever has loved. He experienced the full range of what it means to be fully human and fully alive. He scaled the heights of joy and plumbed the depths of sorrow. He rejoices and weeps.
This enables us to understand and appreciate the beauty, goodness and truth of devotion to Jesus’ Sacred Heart. Far from being indifferent, aloof and absent, God immerses Himself into our human situation. He plunges into our state, becoming one like us in all things but sin. Jesus is exuberant whenever someone repents of their sins. He marvels as those who make their way to Him humbly and persistently. He is moved profoundly by the generosity of those who leave everything to follow Him.
- Before celebrating the Last Supper, Jesus already knows He will remain with us forever by means of His Holy Eucharist that He is preparing to institute. He says to the disciples, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer” (Luke 22:15).
- His emotion assuredly is intensifying when He takes bread, gives thanks, breaks it and gives it to His disciples, saying “This is my Body…do this in memory of me” (Luke 22:19-20).
- Who can even begin to express the complete extent of the feelings in His most loving heart when He gives His mother to us on Calvary (John 19:25-27)?
- And when His body is pierced by a soldier’s lance, the open wound represents Jesus’ immeasurable love of us, an absolute self-emptying for us and for our salvation (John 19:34).
The venerable devotion of the Sacred Heart of Jesus which we celebrate with special fervor today inspires us to approach Christ confidently with our hearts simply seeking divine forgiveness and mercy.
