Sacred Heart of Jesus

The WORD today reminds me of God's divine love for us. 

Today is the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It reminds us of Christ's intense and divine love for us. 

What comes into mind when one sees an image of a heart?

Some, probably the scientists and physicians, would associate heart with science and remember one of the most important organ in the human body.

Well, that is true.

However, I believe most of the people would associate heart with love. And I believe that is what Jesus, through the readings today, wants to tell us.

In the first reading we see God taking care of us, his flock. He loves and takes care of us. He protects us. Nanjan sya kahit hindi natin alam, kahit hindi natin napapansin or pinapansin. His love is unconditional, na kahit hindi mo I acknowledge, kahit hindi ka magpasalamat, hindi sya titigil magmahal. He is willing to die for us. To protect us. To guide us. To save us. And that is exactly what Jesus did for us. 

In the second reading, we see the first reading concretized. Hindi na concept yung pagmamahal ni God. Hindi na theoretical yung shepherd willing to die for his sheep. We see that this love is true. While it is easy to love our family, friends and those who love us, pero mahirap mahalin ang kaaway. Mahirap mahalin ang sumasakit sayo. But this is exactly what Christ did. He loved us while we were still sinners. He did not wait for us to change and love him before loving and saving us. He died for us while we were still sinners. While we were still hurting him. He died to save us. That's how he loved us. That's how he proved his love for us. 

God invites us to love him and to love others. In the second reading, he also tells us to remain in his love. In the gospel, God wants us to love him and follow him and come to him. Love should be an action. A decision. 

God loves you even if you don't love him. 

We have all experienced God’s immense love for us. Yes, we have problems and concerns especially during this pandemic. But God is always faithful. His love is evident in our lives. This is why we should also pass it on to others. We should show our love to God by loving others. This is probably the best way to thank God for everything.

Do I know that God really loves me so much? Do I value God’s love for me? IS it enough for God to tell me how special and worthy I am, or do I still look for love and affirmation of other people to make me feel good about myself? How can I love others and make them feel God’s love?

May we always remember how much God loves us, and live to make that love alive in the world. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for your reminder. Thank you for loving me, even if I am unworthy. Lord, I am sorry for sinning and hurting you. Pero Lord salamat, kasi kahit pasaway ako, that does not stop you from loving me. Thank you for not giving up on me. Thank you for loving me even if I hurt you. Thank you for dying for me. Lord, help me value to your love for me and may I find my worth in your love and not in others. May I always remember how divine your love for me is. Today and every day, may I always remember how much you love me, and may I be a vessel of your love to others. Use me to make your love more alive in this world.  Amen.

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

June 19, 2020

Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus; St. Romuald

FIRST READING

Deuteronomy 7:6–11

Moses said to the people:

“You are a people sacred to the LORD, your God; he has chosen you from all the nations on the face of the earth to be a people peculiarly his own. It was not because you are the largest of all nations that the LORD set his heart on you and chose you, for you are really the smallest of all nations. It was because the LORD loved you and because of his fidelity to the oath he had sworn to your fathers, that he brought you out with his strong hand from the place of slavery, and ransomed you from the hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Understand, then, that the LORD, your God, is God indeed, the faithful God who keeps his merciful covenant down to the thousandth generation toward those who love him and keep his commandments, but who repays with destruction a person who hates him; he does not dally with such a one, but makes them personally pay for it. You shall therefore carefully observe the commandments, the statutes and the decrees that I enjoin on you today.”

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

Psalm 103:1–2, 3–4, 6, 8, 10 (see 17)

R. The Lord’s kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.

Bless the LORD, O my soul; all my being, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul; and forget not all his benefits. 

R. The Lord’s kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.

He pardons all your iniquities, heals all your ills. He redeems your life from destruction, crowns you with kindness and compassion. 

R. The Lord’s kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.

Merciful and gracious is the LORD, slow to anger and abounding in kindness. Not according to our sins does he deal with us, nor does he requite us according to our crimes. 

R. The Lord’s kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.

SECOND READING

1 John 4:7–16

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love. In this way the love of God was revealed to us: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might have life through him. In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another. No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us. 

This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us, that he has given us of his Spirit. Moreover, we have seen and testify that the Father sent his Son as savior of the world. Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in him and he in God. We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us. 

God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him.

ALLELUIA

Matthew 11:29ab

R. Alleluia, alleluia. 

Take my yoke upon you, says the Lord; and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart. 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL

Matthew 11:25–30

At that time Jesus exclaimed:

“I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to little ones. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him. 

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”