In this is Love: not that we have love God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.
The initial reading of the scriptures says to the casual observer that the message is easy. God loves us. Jesus loves us. This love is boundless.
Thinking some more in retrospect. How do you define Jesus love? Now the message becomes harder. How do you explain unconditional love? How do you explain God’s love for us?
Well you could say a Father’s love or Mother’s love for a child. This Sunday in Father’s Day in the United States. There are so many good, good fathers all over the world. That doesn’t work for every child because of the many cases of child abuse. As humans this is hard to imagine how anyone could abuse a child or the elderly.
As a young man, I was in love with a young nurse named, Sandy. She worked as a nurse for the State of Florida. Her clients were children in need of medical help that was not provided by health insurance. Her patients included loved and abused children. She was dedicated to these children in medical need. These children were her children and she did not want any children of her own, because her life was committed to these children . In retirement as Parish Nurses (Faith Community Nurse) Sandy and my wife, Anna, met and shared nursing stories. During both their working careers as nurses they saw children who were not loved who they tried to help.
The world today gives us people that show God’s love because they are motivated by the Love reflected by the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
So we see that God swore an oath. He loves us. God is consistent and trustworthy. He does not change. From 1 John 4 God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him. these are the characteristics of Jesus and His love for us.
God wants us to be with Him. He yearns for us. Jesus is our gateway. Yes, Father, such has been you gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.
The Solemnity of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus means means true love as only God can love. We see that through His Son, Jesus. We Know God is consistent and trustworthy. When He says something, He means it if He takes an oath, He keeps it.
I have tried to explain the Love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is impossible to explain the mind of Jesus completely. In Heaven we will totally understand. As humans we can only try to experience and imitate Jesus love for all of us.
In short the Sacred Heart of Jesus is the picture of God’s love for us. Go to it . Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.
Today, on the anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation let us pray for Justice and peace for all God’s people. Pray for our nation and that it may reflect treat everyone as Jesus would treat them with love
God love you always
Bob Burford
