Homily (Reflection) for Solemnity of
the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (C) (28th June, 2019) on the Gospel
and the Solemnity
Ezek 34:11-16;
Ps 22. (R. v. 1);
Rom 5:5-11;
Lk 15:3-7.
Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus can be traced
back to the eleventh century. It marked the spirituality of Saint Bernard of
Clairvaux in the twelfth century and of Saint Bonaventure and St. Gertrude the
Great in the thirteenth century. The devotion to the love of God as symbolized
by the heart of Jesus are found even in the fathers of the Church including
Origen, Saint Ambrose, Saint Jerome, Saint Augustine of Hippo, Saint Hippolytus
of Rome, Saint Irenaeus, Saint Justin Martyr and Saint Cyprian.
But the first liturgical feast of the Sacred Heart was
celebrated, with episcopal approval, on 31 August 1670, in the major seminary
of Rennes, France, through the efforts of Saint John Eudes. The revelations to
Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque and Blessed Mary of the Divine Heart Droste zu
Vischering gave this devotion more impetus. Mass of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was
approved by the papacy for Poland and Portugal in 1765, and for Venice, Austria
and Spain in 1788. Finally, in 1856, Pope Pius IX extended it to the universal
Church. Pope Pius XI raised it to Solemnity in 1928.[1]
Topic: You are God’s treasure.
We see in today’s gospel the parable of the lost sheep. In
this parable, the owner of a hundred sheep would set out in search of any lost
one until he finds it. And “When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders
and rejoices.”
It is touching that the sheep owner neither scolded the lost
one nor complained of the stress it caused him. He also did not even demand an
explanation of what led it away. As if these were not enough, he did not allow
it to trek home instead carried it on his own shoulder.
We read from the Psalms, “Know that the LORD is God! It is he
that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture”
(Ps 100:3; cf. Ps 74:1. 95:7. Ezek 34:31).
This parable is therefore one of the illustrations of how much God loves each
of us. The Psalmist also wrote, “He does not deal with us according to our
sins, nor requite us according to our iniquities” (Ps 103:10). And Jesus concluded the parable thus, “Just so, I tell
you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over
ninety-nine righteous who need no repentance.”
We celebrate today God’s love for us symbolized by the Sacred
Heart of Jesus. It is time to cause great joy in heaven by returning from all
the ways we have gone astray. If you are ready for this journey, let’s go back
home to our God.
Bible Reading: Ezek 34:11-31;
Ps 100:1-5. 103:1-14.
Thought for today: God’s love for us is too deep for words.
Let us pray: God, help us to respond positively
to your love always – Amen.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus – Thy kingdom come!
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