Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus | iPray with the Gospel
Jesus told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing … Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”
Luke 15:3-7
This is a good description of the feelings in God’s Heart. The Good Shepherd treats each sheep as if it were the only sheep of the flock. The whole month of June is devoted to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus because of today’s Solemnity. And this feast has two aspects: on the one hand gratefulness for the wonders of God’s Love for us, and on the other, reparation, because our response to that Love is often so poor.
Our Lord appeared to St Margaret Mary Alacoque, showing her His Most Sacred Heart and saying: “See this Heart that has loved men so much and has spared itself nothing until it has exhausted itself and consumed itself in order to show them its love. I receive in return scarcely anything but ingratitude because of their irreverence and sacrileges, and because of the coldness and disdain they show towards Me in this sacrament of love.”
One day in the 8th century A.D. as a Basilian monk was saying Mass, he doubted Jesus’ Real Presence in the Eucharist. Suddenly the Host changed into live Flesh and the Wine changed into live Blood. The miracle has been kept in the town of Lanciano ever since. In 1981 Professor Linoli and his team conducted a scientific investigation. Many astonishing facts came out of those tests. One of the most remarkable ones was that the Flesh that had been preserved for more than 12 centuries proved to be a part of a human Heart.
In Holy Communion we touch the Sacred Heart and we can comfort Jesus and so, in some way, return His love for us. Today is a day of reparation. Let’s turn to Mary for help: Mary, my Mother, today I also want to console Jesus with you; help me to make up, with my love, for the lack of gratitude of men and women and help others to “look on him whom they have pierced” with their sins.
This article originally appeared on www.ipraywiththegospel.org. Reprinted with permission. Copyright © Fr. George Boronat.
Rev. George Boronat
Rev. George Boronat M.D. S.T.D is a Catholic priest from the Prelature of Opus Dei, working in the Archdiocese of Southwark in London. He is the Chaplain of The Cedars Independent School in Croydon, and also works as Chaplain of Kelston Club & Study Centre (Balham) and Oakwood Independent School (Purley). He has developed his pastoral ministry mainly with young people and is the author of iPray with the Gospel: Resources to Help Young People Pray.
