Today is the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This feast celebrates the love of God. Today’s readings bring out that the “heart” of the Scriptures is God’s love for each one of us. God’s love for us comes first and then we in turn are called upon to love God and to love one another.
In the Old Testament reading from Deuteronomy, we hear that God chose the Israelites not because they were that best and brightest but out of love:
“It was not because you are the largest of all nations that the LORD set his heart on you and chose you, for you are really the smallest of all nations. It was because the LORD loved you.”
This reading tells us that God set his heart on the Jewish people and loved them. God’s love never fails. God continues to love our Jewish brothers and sisters and they remain the chosen people of God.
In the second reading John addresses us as “Beloved” because we, like the Jews, are loved by God. Echoing the Gospel John tells us that God shows his love for us by sending his Son into the world:
“In this way the love of God was revealed to us: “God sent his only Son into the world so that we might have life through him.” (1 John 4:9)
“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” (John 3:16).
God’s love comes first. It is this overwhelming and unmerited experience of God’s love that encourages and empowers us to love one another.
“In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another.” (1 John 4:10-11).
Today as we celebrate the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus let us joyfully accept the gift of God’s love and show this love to one another.
Image: “Sacred Heart of Jesus” by angelofsweetbitter2009 is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.