John 19:31-37 – The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Solemnity
Today’s feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus is a high holy day in our Church. Since this feast typically falls on a weekday, many of us may not be aware of this feast. Yet, today we celebrate the depth of love Jesus has for us. Jesus loves us so deeply that he willingly gave his life for us!
The Gospel for today is the scene immediately after Jesus’ death. Jesus’ body is still on the cross. However, since the Sabbath was upon them, the bodies of Jesus and the two men crucified with him needed to be taken down and buried. John tells us that the Jews asked Pilate to break the legs of Jesus and the two men who were crucified with him. However, when the soldiers came to Jesus’ body, he clearly was dead so they decided not to break his legs. Rather they chose to pierce his side with a lance! And as we know blood and water flowed out. This fulfilled the prophecy in Exodus 12: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” Thus, Jesus fulfilled the prophecies of the Messiah. Jesus truly was the “Lamb of God” who had been sacrificed for us!
Do we truly appreciate what Jesus did for us? Is Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection personal to us? Or do we simply think of it as a nice story? Do we deeply appreciate Jesus’ willingness to sacrifice his own life so that we can live fully?
This feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus gives us the opportunity to ponder all that Jesus freely chose to do for you and for me. Do we realize how much Jesus continues to grace us today? Whether we are aware of it or not, we live deep in Jesus’ heart. Truly there is no greater love than the love Jesus has for us!
Today I invite you to sit quietly with Jesus for 10-15 minutes. Thank Jesus for the depth and the tenderness of his love for us. What a wondrous and enduring gift He continually gives us! Today may we truly celebrate his “sacred, loving heart.”
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