The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Sanctification Day for Priests

Hos. 11:1.3-4.8-9, Eph. 3:8-12.14-19, Jn 19:31-37. Today, we celebrate the great Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, the most wonderful love that God has shown us from His Most Sacred Heart. The heart being the representative of one’s love and emotions, feelings and thoughts. Today, the devotion to the Sacred Heart underlines the centrality of such Divine love, encouraging us to trust in God’s overflowing benevolence towards the world He made. In today's first reading, the prophet Hosea summarises Hebrew history and God’s dealing with the children of Israel. God loves every single one of us and He created us because He loves us and wants us to share in this love. Unfortunately, due to our disobedience we fell into sin, as we listen to the falsehood and lies of the devil rather than trust in God. God could have annihilated us and crushed us there and then, willing us out of existence just as easily as He willed creation into being. Yet, He did not do that because He loves us, from His heart.

It is this same love that Paul referred to in today's first reading, how God revealed to us His most generous and wonderful love. He revealed this love in the person of Jesus Christ, sent into this world to reveal to us the full extent of that love and it was that same love which Paul and the other Apostles preached and testified to. The picture of the Sacred Heart speaks of the self-giving love of Christ, an unlimited love most totally shown upon the Cross as recorded in today's Gospel. The pierced heart of Christ proclaims that greater love: “Greater love has no man than this: that he lay down his life for his friends.” The image of the Sacred Heart offered the message of love in a very personal way and echoes in the words of Paul: “I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.” Jesus is the supreme revelation of our Father-God whose very nature is love. All authentic love is life-giving and that is uniquely true of Jesus. He invites us who are burdened by life’s cares and crosses to come to Him and to find rest, peace and hope. If we take a glimpse of the tremendous love of God for us it can transform our hearts. It can empower us to love one another as God has loved us. We dedicate this day as the Sanctification Day for Priests, we place all Priests in the Heart of Jesus, the Heart of love, so that, they may be filled with love and care for the flock of God entrusted to them.

May the Sacred Heart of Jesus fill His Priests who are consecrated to His Heart with genuine love so that all those who hope in God shall never be put to shame and all who seek God with sincere heart may never be dismayed through them! Amen!! Good morning and have a glorious day!!!