Today we celebrate the love of God on this Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. St. Paul tells us in today’s second reading: “The love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” This love of God is made concrete in the incarnation of Jesus Christ:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:16-17).
Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection reveal to us the love of God. Jesus teaches us in today’s Gospel that God is the Good Shepherd who goes out to seek that lost or straying sheep. God’s will and desire is that “the world might be saved through him [Jesus].” So, God’s seeks out everyone to receive his gift of grace and our love.
As St. Paul brings out in today’s 2nd reading Jesus and the Father sought us out while we were still sinners. “But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” Jesus teaches in the parable of the lost sheep that God rejoices when he finds and brings back the lost sheep:
“I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.”
The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is the celebration of God’s great and overflowing love. Jesus shows us the love of God through both his teachings and his actions. He teaches us to love one another, not only our friends but also our enemies:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.” (Matthew 5:43-45).
Jesus not only teaches us to love but first and foremost loves us and shows us how to love through his humility and sacrifice. We are empowered to love because God has first loved us:
“I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35).
Image: “The Good Shepherd” by Lawrence OP is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.