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(27th June 2025) Homily for the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus - Solemnity

READ: (Ezek 34: 11-16; Rom 5: 5-11; Lk 15: 3-7)

REFLECT: … Jesus’ heart always loves, reconciles and rejoices…

Dear friends, today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. The solemnity invites us to consecrate ourselves to the heart of Jesus to abide in God. The solemnity is commemorated in the Catholic Church 19 days after the Pentecost event, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and birth of the Catholic Church spreading the message of Christ to the world. We all know that the devotion to the Sacred Heart is one of the most widely practiced and well-known Catholic devotions, wherein the heart of Jesus is viewed as a symbol of God’s unconditional, unfathomable and passionate love for humankind.

Although the devotion was present long before in the Catholic Church, it became more popular by St. Marguerite Marie Alacoque, a 17th C French nun and mystic was instrumental in the spread of devotion to the Sacred Heart through her visions in which Christ expressed his desire to reveal his loving heart to humankind. Jesus appeared to her in visions, sorrowful of humanity’s coldness for the love he manifested greatly. Jesus asked her to reconcile the cold indifference of humanity by her genuine love. Therefore, she was asked to receive Holy Eucharist on the first Friday of every month, engaging devoutly in the Eucharistic adoration every Thursday an hour, meditating on the agony of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. Moreover, he asked for a feast to be instituted in honor of his Sacred Heart. It is also said that in his apparition to St. Margaret, Jesus as well promised twelve blessings for those who practice devotions to His Most Sacred Heart.

It is also worth noting that the saint’s visions came at a time when Calvinism and Jansenism were spearheading and spreading throughout Europe. These doctrines emphasized the judgment of God and propagated that some people are predestined to eternal damnation. So the vision of St. Margaret was a great aid to promote Devotion to the Sacred Heart and it widely gripped the heart of many Catholics. Indeed, it was a soothing experience for people to find comfort in the love and compassion of Christ’s message.

We all know that the Sacred Heart of Jesus is picturized in Christian art as a heart that’s flaming, a light that’s shining, pierced by the lance-wound, surrounded by the crown of thorns and a cross, bleeding. The image as well as shown with his wounded hands pointing at the heart. The love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is so deep for humanity that although the heart of Jesus is crowned with thorns and a cross, yet his love for us radiates like the rays of blessing that shines light for all humanity. Moreover, it is important to note the connection and the difference between the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The reverence to the Immaculate Heart of Mary generally follows with the worship of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.  However, there is a difference between the two devotions. The Catholics very clearly hold that the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is an utmost expression of his love for the humanity, directed to the Divine Heart of Jesus, whereas the devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary is an expression of her great for God and for Jesus.

In addition to the above, it was in 1856 that the celebration of the feast was extended to the General Roman Calendar of the Church by Pius IX. On 11th June 1899 Pope Leo XIII consecrated the entire human race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. On this feast day the Catholics consecrate their families to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. On this festive day I would I like to share with you three points to grow in devotion to the sacred heart of Jesus;

1. A loving Heart:

We hear in St. John’s first letter, “Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love,” (1Jn 4:8). Yes, love is the basis of every relationship. God relates with us by genuine and generous love. Indeed, we could say that a heart that loves always cares for people regardless of differences and distinctions in whatsoever manner it could be. Such a deeper meaning of love is what we see in the first reading. The First reading manifest to us how God speaks through the prophet Ezekiel, saying that He will take care of His people, like a good shepherd who cares for his sheep. The message of God is clear that the leaders have failed to protect, guide and feed people. So now God himself will look out for his people and look after the scattered people, bring them back to the fold, heal the wounded and give them rest. However, justice would be done to people who were cruel in their dealings with the people of God.

This act of God reveals to us that God has a loving heart, by which he cares and loves his people and does not abandon them at any moments although we as human persons might fail in our responsibility towards others. It just reminds us that God knows and is aware of our nature and he is at our beck and call for rescue, although we take God’s love for granted. Thus, the act of God is so loving and gentle, compassionate and just and he holds accountable of the people who do injustice to others.

Today we need to understand that God cares for us personally. He has not forgotten us and he has not recorded in the list of books to take revenge or hurt us rather it is an aspect that shows how God is seeking after us for our restoration and unity with him. God does not only seek us rather sees our actions and those who harm the people unjustly, he makes sure that they obtain their reward accordingly. We may think that God has not acted on people who have done injustice but God will act on a time unnoticed and unexpected. Thus, leadership as a shepherd of people in the society, church, and family is not just merely a privilege rather it is a responsibility that calls for commitment and justice in our dealings with one another. We also need to realize that the scriptural passage from Ezekiel is a fulfillment of promise in Jesus, the good shepherd, who came to seek and save the lost, last and least in the society.

Today, we need to understand that our God is a loving God in whom we need to turn to him and trust in his divine love through prayer, so that we could overcome the life of loneliness and sadness. I am sure that the recognition of God’s love would make us stand for what is true and just. This sort of attitude will enable us to feel with the suffering humanity and stand for the weak and the vulnerable in the society. What God wants from us is to care for others with love and compassion. So let us not isolate ourselves that no one is there to care for us. Let us believe that a loving God would not lead us into suffering and would not leave us any time. Let God be a source of help and support to be compassionate and loving to one another.

2. A heart that reconciles  

We hear in St. Paul’s letter to Second Corinthians, “God reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,” (2 Cor 5:18-19). We all know that a heart that reconciles reflects the face of God, who chose to reconcile the world to himself though his Son Jesus. A reconciling heart builds bridges to connect and continue good and healthy relationships; a reconciling heart renews and revitalizes life of the other; a reconciling heart brings forgiveness.

The second reading from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans speaks of a God who reconciled with the humanity by the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus. The passage very powerfully communicates to us the deep love and longing of God. The unfathomable love of God is manifested to us by sending his only Son Jesus for our redemption. That’s what we hear “the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. This is the hope that God gives to reconcile the entire human race.

We hear the word ‘reconciliation’ three times in the second reading; we were reconciled by the death of his Son; now that we are reconciled, shall be saved by his life; we rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. These phrases communicate to us how God reconciled the humanity through Christ Jesus, although we were weak, vulnerable, sinners and in stains. Today, what we need to understand is that God did not wait for us to become completely perfect before loving us, he rather loved us in our sinfulness. It shows the pure and unconditional love of God for reconciliation. The once and for all sacrifice of Jesus has sanctified the humanity free from sin to get back to the original nature of ourselves in God’s image.

Today we need to realize that we are dearly and immensely loved by God through Christ although we might be worst sinners on earth. Even when life becomes hard for us, we need to have the disposition to cling on to God for security and safety. In times of discouragement and distress, it is God’s accompanying presence through Christ in the Holy Spirit makes us good and loving. Sometimes, due to discouragement and distress caused by others, we become unforgiving and revengeful, but we need to remind ourselves that God made peace with us or reconciled with us, although sinners. Such reminder would help us to get rid of the grudge and revengeful feeling on others and bring peace and reconciliation in families, societies, communities and wherever we live in the name of God as God’s children.

3. A heart that rejoices:

We hear in the book of proverbs “A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones,” (Prov 17:22). Yes, a heart that rejoices in God is pure and graceful. It finds God in all things. It is deeply rooted in faith, hope and love. It sees life beyond pains and struggles and welcomes God’s purpose to celebrate life with joy and happiness. We could call a rejoicing heart as a joyful heart that brims to the full. It is an unending joy, which no one could stop; it is an unspeakable joy, which no one could express due to its limitless measure and means of love. Such a rejoicing heart what we see in God through the gospel reading of the day. The gospel presents before us the parable about a good shepherd, who leaves rest of the sheep in the fold for the sake of the one that’s astray. That’s what we read too, “there is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents that over ninety-nine who don’t think that they need to.

Sure, the rejoicing for even a single person matters a lot. It is not in God’s mind that he could bypass anyone, because he wants every one of his children to be part of the divine banquet, the banquet of joy, which he has prepared for all. It does not matter how many times we have gone astray or how far we have wandered away, every single person is counted for Jesus, the Shepherd, provided one repents or ready to amen his or her way of life according to God’s ways. It is very clear to us that whether we choose or willing to seek God or not, God always seeks the lost and actively and attentively, because he loves us beyond measure to make us happy and joyful. God pursues us although we pursue the world and its beauty or advancements.

Today many of us feel lonely, unwanted, unloved, without friends and company, unworthy and unfit for various reasons. It could emerge from oneself or others may make us feel, but let us remember that God would never make us feel shameful and sinful, because, God seeks us truly and he never gives up on us, so that, we might remain in his love and experience deep rejoicing of being united with God. Sometimes, we are prejudiced by what has happened in the past, but let us realize that everyone acts differently according to situations. If we understand people and their situation, we would accept them as they are. That’s what God does. He does not become prejudiced of what we do or what we have done. He gives us chances to change and channelize our lives in and through him to reach the destiny joyfully.

I feel that it is our chance to reflect the face of God in our world amidst war and violence, hate and hurt. We need to reflect the joy and grace of God in our lives, so that it becomes a healing for one another to share the joy that God has shared with us, through his only Son Jesus. There are many who are struggling in various ways and for various reasons. Even if we can’t help them at least, we should feel that should not hurt them but give them joy, so that everyone’s journey becomes joyful. That could perhaps be possible, when we become shepherd after the heart of Jesus, who sought the lost, served the least and helped the desolate and dejected. Let us become shepherds in the family, society, church and in our world, so that we may share the joy of the Lord that awaits and give a real rejoicing of God to one another in our world.

Let us remember the words of Pope Leo XIV, who released his first monthly prayer intention for the month of June, inviting the faithful to pray “that each one of us might find consolation in a personal relationship with Jesus, and from His Heart, learn to have compassion on the world.” Let this be our prayer and resolve as we celebrate the solemnity of the Sacred heart of Jesus that we may not be scared of the happenings around us but rely on the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

RESPOND:

·       Do we have a heart that loves all without any differences and distinctions that ruin relationships?

·       Do we have a heart that reconciles and forgives amidst all faults and flaws of life?

·       Do we have a rejoicing heart to give joy or to add joy in the lives of people, who feel that they are astray for various reasons?

Let us then pray to God that we may reflect a loving heart, reconciling heart and a heart that rejoices to be in union with God and one another. Amen.

Happy Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus! God bless us all…