Solemnity of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
“O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in you!” (Diary of St. Faustina Kowalska, 84) We have a two foot tall statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the mantel in our living room that was passed down from my grandparents. It holds a special place in my heart (not nearly as sacred) because of the familial connection and because of how it has inspired our family to pray together. In the Spring of 2020, soon after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we started a 54-day novena to the Divine Mercy. Each night at 9PM, we gathered on zoom with our parents and LeeAnn’s grandparents to pray the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy together. We finished the novena and decided to just keep going. Selfishly, it was a great way to connect with our parents and grandparents, all of whom live hours away so our kids not only got to pray with them, but they talked to and saw them regularly. Four years later, we still have a standing nine o’clock virtual meeting to pray the chaplet. Some nights the call is quick because we just log on, pray, and say goodnight; other nights, we are on the call for 45 minutes telling stories and sharing updates. The Sacred Heart of Jesus has drawn us into closer relationships with one another and created a powerful connection for our family.
On this Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we are reminded of the immense love of our good and merciful God. Displayed through divine patience, understood through the fulfillment of Scripture and poured out through Jesus’ body, God’s eternal love calls us to be patient, grateful, and joyful. In the Gospel, we read that blood and water flowed forth from Jesus. We pray in the Divine Mercy an offering of the “Body and Blood, soul and divinity” of “our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.” The whole world! The mercy of God breathes new life into humanity. Two months ago, I stood witness to the birth of our fifth child, Dorothy. Blood and water pours forth during delivery to bring new life into the world. Mothers all over the world reflect the endless mercy and inexhaustible compassion of God. The work of giving life, whether for one child or for all of humanity, does not stop with the experience of blood and water. Rather, the work has only just begun.
In the first reading, the Lord draws on the parent-child relationship to describe the dedication and commitment that love requires. We teach, foster, and feed. We are present through the joys and the challenges. As we continue our journey, helping one another grow into our roles as sons and daughters of God, the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus reminds us of God’s mercy, patience, and protection. In recognition of these gifts, we are called to “draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation” (Is 12:3). On this most sacred of solemnities, may we swim in the “ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world” by our beautiful savior and his most sacred heart. May we turn to God and trust “that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to [God’s] holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself. Amen.” (Diary 950)
Peace,
Brandon Meyer