I am sometimes mystified by the readings of Old and New Testament on how they mesh and substanciate each other. Our readings today could be read on any Good Shepherd theme and are uncannily similar. They give us a insight into the mind of God. It is obvious why the Holy Mother Church choose these readings today, not for the Good Shepherd but for the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Devotion to the Sacred Heart was attributed to apparitions of a French nun, Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, in 1675. However, devotions to the Sacred Heart started much earlier after the crusades in Benedictine and Cistercian Monasteries in the 11th century AD.
Our readings today start in Ezekiel 34 : “The lost I will seek out, the strayed I will bring back, the injured I will bind up, the sick I will heal, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy, shepherding them rightly.” Ezekiel is speaking of God’s desire to heal us and bind up our wounds. Our society is hurting and the good Lord is yearning for us to come to Him. He created us in His own image. We are His children, but we are all so arrogant that we think that we can fix things ourselves.
In the second reading from Romans 5, “but God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” God has shown us how much He loves us and proves it every day. The pierced Sacred Heart of Jesus is the eager symbol of that yearning for God to be one with us. The only thing stopping that union is us.
I look at myself here and wonder how I can get myself out of the way of Jesus’s love for me. The last time I received the Sacrament of Reconciliation was during Lent. Yes, I have moved, and my bride and I are getting settled and there are tons of other excuses. The whole problem is they are excuses.
The words of the priest are simple, “your sins are forgiven, go and sin no more.” The words of Jesus are simple [Luke 15] “there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.”
Spread that joy in Heaven and experience Jesus love for you today. Jesus Sacred Heart is beating for you now.
God Bless
Bob Burford
