HOMILY FOR THE FEAST OF SACRED HEART OF JESUS

 

*HOMILY FOR SOLEMNITY OF MOST SACRED HEART OF JESUS YEAR A*

SACRED HEART OF JESUS: THE HEART OF LOVE AND THE HEART OF DIVINE PRESENCE

Deuteronomy 7: 6-11; Psalm 103: 1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8, 10; 1 John 4: 7-16; Matthew 11: 25-30
The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is always celebrated on the third Friday after Pentecost.  The purpose of the feast is to honor Jesus and His sacred heart.  In most Western cultures, the heart is a symbol for love and devotion, so today’s readings focus on the love which God has for those whom He has called to be in relationship with the Trinity.   In today’s first reading, Moses reminds the Israelites that God has chosen them despite their unimportance and smallness. In Deuteronomy 7:8, the Scripture says that “It was because the Lord loved you and because of his fidelity to the oath he had sworn your fathers”, which God is able to manifest the divine graciousness by choosing an insignificant group of people and bestowing on them love and a desire for a close relationship. The phrase in 7:8 “because the Lord loved you” is deep. Many times the Old Testament stresses that God will fulfill His promises to their forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (cf. Genesis 12, 15, 18, 26, 28). But here God shows that He did it because He loves this generation, too! God loves my generation too. God only asks that the chosen people remain faithful to the covenant relationship which God has established with them.  THIS UNCONDITIONAL LOVE FOR AN INSIGNIFICANT NATION IS WHAT GOD IS ALL ABOUT.  God’s love is what makes the people have value.  And what is true for the Israelites is true for all people, everywhere and at all times. The psalmist today speaks of the loving-kindness (hesed) of the Lord God.  God pardons iniquities, heals diseases, redeems lives from destruction, crowns individuals with kindness and compassion.  God is merciful and gracious; slow to anger, rich in kindness.  What excellent descriptions of the characteristics of One Who love unconditionally? In the Second Reading of today, St. John in his “love” letter equates God with love (αγαπη - agape).  We are to love others because God has first loved us.  “Knowledge of God” or in scriptural term, “having a relationship with God” is equated with loving God and others.  We cannot say we know God if we do not love.  If we are “Godly” people, we will be a “loving” people, a people who love others.  Thus we are called to “God” our neighbors as ourselves.  We are to treat them as God treats us.  We are to love them as we are loved.  Love is the key characteristic of a divine relationship, not only with God but with others.  

Today as we celebrate the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we are celebrating the love which God has for us and the love we are called to share with others.  Love is as essential to those who are called by God as blood being pumped by the human heart is to the human body.  We come together to celebrate the God who is Love.  We honor Jesus the LOVE INCARNATE who poured out all the sacred blood from His sacred heart as a sign of love for us. 

The Sacred Heart is a Compassionate Heart. Jesus Christ came into the world to suffer with us as well as for us. Every sort of suffering has a claim on His Divine compassion. He has the most intense compassion for those who are suffering any earthly sorrow. None appreciates as He the utter loneliness of the mother who has lost her son; of the friend who is separated from one who was dear as life itself. At the tomb of Lazarus and at the gates of Nain He manifested His tender sympathy with sorrow. To Him then we will have recourse when earthly shadows press hard upon us. He has a still greater compassion for those who have separated themselves from God by sin, and who are desirous to be freed from the chain that has bound them down, and to return to their Father in Heaven. What countless, boundless graces flow from His Sacred Heart to help them in their difficulties! He has the greatest compassion of all for His servants and saints who are suffering for Him. How it grieves Him to witness their pains! What consolations He pours into their souls! How He compensates them for their afflictions with spiritual delights! What a reward He promises Himself to give them for what they have endured for love of Him! It is indeed of all privileges the greatest to earn the sympathy of the Sacred Heart by suffering for the cause of Christ.

Dear Sisters and Brothers, the Heart of Jesus is the Heart of infinite majesty, the holy temple of God, the tabernacle of the Most High, the house of God and gate of heaven, the glowing furnace of charity, the vessel of justice and love, a heart full of goodness and love, the abyss (hollow, deep hole) of all virtues, the most worthy of all praise, the Rex and Culmen et fons of all hearts (King and Center of all Hearts), the heart in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, the heart in whom dwells all the fullness of Divinity, the heart in whom the Father was well pleased, the heart of whose fullness we have all received, the heart that desires everlasting hills, the heart that is patient and rich in mercy, the heart that is rich to all who call upon Jesus, the heart  bruised for our iniquities, the heart obedient even unto death, the heart pierced with a lance, the salvation of those who hope in God, the hope of those who die in Jesus, the delight of all saints. The Sacred Heart is our peace and reconciliation, victim for our sins, our life and resurrection, the source of all consolation, fount of life and holiness, propitiation for our offences, overwhelmed with reproaches.

Let us approach this HEART daily in our lives. I recommend daily devotion to the Sacred Heart by all Christ’s faithful.

We shall end this homily with the ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE SACRED HEART.

*ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE SACRED HEART*

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, to Thee I consecrate and offer up my person and my life, my actions, trials, and sufferings, that my entire being may henceforth only be employed in loving, honoring and glorifying Thee. This is my irrevocable will, to belong entirely to Thee, and to do all for Thy love, renouncing with my whole heart all that can displease Thee. I take Thee, O Sacred Heart, for the sole object of my love, the protection of my life, the pledge of my salvation, the remedy of my frailty and inconstancy, the reparation for all the defects of my life, and my secure refuge at the hour of my death. Be Thou, O Most Merciful Heart, my justification before God Thy Father, and screen me from His anger which I have so justly merited. I fear all from my own weakness and malice, but placing my entire confidence in Thee, O Heart of Love, I hope all from Thine infinite Goodness. Annihilate in me all that can displease or resist Thee. Imprint Thy pure love so deeply in my heart that I may never forget Thee or be separated from Thee. I beseech Thee, through Thine infinite Goodness, grant that my name be engraved upon Thy Heart, for in this I place all my happiness and all my glory, to live and to die as one of Thy devoted servants. Amen. -- St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

*MEDITATION* What does the heart signify for me?  What meaning can I take from the Sacred Heart of Jesus?  What does it say to me about the sacrifices involved in truly loving someone?  How can I share my heart with someone so that they can understand the Love that flows from the essence of God?  Who might benefit from my heart-filled love today, this weekend? 

*PRAYER TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS*

O most holy heart of Jesus, fountain of every blessing, I adore you, I love you, and with lively sorrow for my sins I offer you this poor heart of mine. Make me humble, patient, pure and wholly obedient to your will. Grant, Good Jesus that I may live in you and for you. Protect me in the midst of danger. Comfort me in my afflictions. Give me health of body, assistance in my temporal needs, your blessing on all that I do, and the grace of a holy death. Amen.

© Rev Utazi Prince Marie Benignus SFDPM