Thursday, June 22, 2006
Feast, Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
June 23, 2006
Feast, Most Sacred Heart of Jesus- B
HOSEA 11:1, 3-4, 8C-9
Thus says the LORD: When Israel was a child I loved him, out of Egypt I
called my son. Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, who took them
in my arms; I drew them with human cords, with bands of love; I
fostered them like one who raises an infant to his cheeks; Yet, though
I stooped to feed my child, they did not know that I was their healer.
My heart is overwhelmed, my pity is stirred. I will not give vent to my
blazing anger, I will not destroy Ephraim again; For I am God and not a
man, the Holy One present among you; I will not let the flames consume
you.
EPHESIANS 3:8-12, 14-19
Brothers and sisters: To me, the very least of all the holy ones, this
grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the inscrutable riches of
Christ, and to bring to light for all what is the plan of the mystery
hidden from ages past in God who created all things, so that the
manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to
the principalities and authorities in the heavens. This was according
to the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,
in whom we have boldness of speech and confidence of access through
faith in him. For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom
every family in heaven and on earth is named, that he may grant you in
accord with the riches of his glory to be strengthened with power
through his Spirit in the inner self, and that Christ may dwell in your
hearts through faith; that you, rooted and grounded in love, may have
strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and
length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which
surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of
God.
JOHN 19:31-37
Since it was preparation day, in order that the bodies might not remain
on the cross on the sabbath, for the sabbath day of that week was a
solemn one, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken and they be
taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and
then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus. But when they came
to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs,
but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood
and water flowed out. An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is
true; he knows that he is speaking the truth, so that you also may come
to believe. For this happened so that the Scripture passage might be
fulfilled: Not a bone of it will be broken. And again another passage
says: They will look upon him whom they have pierced.
REFLECTION
On this Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, let us review the very
basic meaning of the devotion, one that is free of all the often
tedious devotions that are in danger of losing their meaning because of
routine.
The readings for today are full of tender and gentle language. Through
the prophet Hosea, God tells his people that God has loved them since
childhood, taught them how to walk, took them in his arms, leading them
with "reins of kindness" and "leading-strings of love." God is like
"someone who lifts an infant close against his cheek, stooping down"
and giving the infant food.
The psalm again has God saying to us, "Joyfully you will draw water
from the springs of salvation" because God is the God of our salvation.
The beautiful words of St. Paul in his letter to the Ephesians contain
the wish that "Christ may live in your hearts through faith, and then,
planted in love and built on love, you will with all the saints have
strength to grasp the breadth and the length, the height and the depth;
until, knowing the love of Christ, which is beyond all knowledge, you
are filled with the utter fullness of God." Finally, the Gospel scene
is of blood and water flowing from the pierced side of Christ.
The readings suggest that the devotion to the Heart of Jesus is all
about the triune God's unconditional love and mercy for us. There is
nothing new here, but we have to ask whether we really believe God
loves us unconditionally just as we are. God ALREADY loves us, and it
is this love that can prompt us to become better and holier. This is
the basic meaning of the devotion to the Sacred Heart. We are
constantly invited to just BE in the Lord's presence and be mindful of
God's love for us.
Anthony de Mello was a great believer in the efficacy of the devotion
to the Heart of Jesus because the experience of God's love results in
"untold benefits in the spiritual life - sinners will be given the
grace of conversion, saints will make extraordinary progress in
holiness ... The essence of this devotion ... is to accept that love
which the Father has for us in Christ. To accept the fact that Jesus
loves us unconditionally: that he is love itself. If anyone accepts
this truth in his own life and helps others to accept it, he cannot but
experience extraordinary results in his own spiritual life and in his
apostolate." (Contact with God, pp. 136-137)
Today, spend some time conscious of the Lord's presence in your life.
He loves you unconditionally, just as you are. Experience this love,
and everything else will fall into place.
PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray ...
- for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
- for the speedy recovery of Aida.
- for the speedy recovery of Cadio.
- for the speedy recovery of Bongbong Aguado.
- for the personal intentions of Lito and his family.
- for the personal intentions of Fely B.
- for the continued and complete recovery of Ding Vidanes.
- for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Charlene Sun
- Wedding Anniversary: Willy & Marianne Co
- for the eternal repose of the soul of Wendy Peters & Matilda
Cruickshand. Eternal rest grant unto them and may perpetual
light shine upon them. May the souls of the dearly departed
rest in peace.
- for world peace and reconciliation.
Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our
prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
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� 2006 Daily-Homily
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