Solemnity of The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus - Jn 19:31-37 - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

READING OF THE DAY

First reading from the book of the Prophet Hosea

Hos 11:1, 3-4, 8c-9

Thus says the LORD:

When Israel was a child I loved him,

out of Egypt I called my son.

Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk,

who took them in my arms;

I drew them with human cords,

with bands of love;

I fostered them like one

who raises an infant to his cheeks;

Yet, though I stooped to feed my child,

they did not know that I was their healer.

My heart is overwhelmed,

my pity is stirred.

I will not give vent to my blazing anger,

I will not destroy Ephraim again;

For I am God and not a man,

the Holy One present among you;

I will not let the flames consume you.

Second reading from the Letter to the Ephesians

Eph 3:8-12, 14-19

Brothers and sisters:

To me, the very least of all the holy ones, this grace was given,

to preach to the Gentiles the inscrutable riches of Christ,

and to bring to light for all what is the plan of the mystery

hidden from ages past in God who created all things,

so that the manifold wisdom of God

might now be made known through the church

to the principalities and authorities in the heavens.

This was according to the eternal purpose

that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,

in whom we have boldness of speech

and confidence of access through faith in him.

For this reason I kneel before the Father,

from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,

that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory

to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self,

and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;

that you, rooted and grounded in love,

may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones

what is the breadth and length and height and depth,

and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge,

so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Alleluia

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to John

Jn 19:31-37

Since it was preparation day,

in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath,

for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one,

the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken

and they be taken down.

So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first

and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus.

But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead,

they did not break his legs,

but one soldier thrust his lance into his side,

and immediately blood and water flowed out.

An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true;

he knows that he is speaking the truth,

so that you also may come to believe.

For this happened so that the Scripture passage might be fulfilled:

Not a bone of it will be broken.

And again another passage says:

They will look upon him whom they have pierced.

Solemnity of The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus - Jn 19:31-37

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

We are happy to enter the month of June. The Church dedicates this month to honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus, because Jesus conquered death and sin, through His triumphant resurrection in glory with His own open heart.

After solemn feasts such as: The Ascension of the Lord, Pentecost, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, and last week the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. Jesus died on the cross, pouring the last drop of blood to show His love in a wonderful way. The history of salvation is recorded very meticulously and intimately through the book of the Prophet Hosea. He felt God's love for taking care of His people like a parent raising a child. God the Father gave love, but the people did not respond with love and were even ungrateful. The prophet recounted God the Father's thoughts as follows:

“When Israel was a child I loved him, out of Egypt I called my son. Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, who took them in my arms; I drew them with human cords, with bands of love; I fostered them like one who raises an infant to his cheeks; Yet, though I stooped to feed my child, they did not know that I was their healer.

My heart is overwhelmed, my pity is stirred. I will not give vent to my blazing anger, I will not destroy Ephraim again; For I am God and not a man, the Holy One present among you; I will not let the flames consume you.”

However, through many generations, God's people have remained unfaithful. Yet He remains patient, follows, begs, and forgives. The Bible continues:

“My people have their mind set on apostasy; though they call on God in unison, he shall not raise them up. How could I give you up, Ephraim, or deliver you up, Israel? How could I treat you as Admah, or make you like Zeboiim? My heart is overwhelmed, my pity is stirred. I will not give vent to my blazing anger, I will not destroy Ephraim again; For I am God and not a man, the Holy One present among you; I will not come in wrath.”

History from the Old Testament to the New Testament shows us that God the Father has shown His love for His people in a more realistic and clear way on the Cross. Saint John the Apostle was a witness, along with the Virgin Mary, from the beginning, until the moment the Lord's body was taken down from the Cross. Saint John's Gospel says:

“Now since it was preparation day, in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath, for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken and they be taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out. An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true; he knows that he is speaking the truth, so that you also may [come to] believe.

For this happened so that the scripture passage might be fulfilled: “Not a bone of it will be broken.” And again another passage says: ‘They will look upon him whom they have pierced.’” (John 19:31-37)

The incident was where a soldier took a spear and pierced Jesus' side where His loving heart was hidden. The last drops of blood of love flowed out. Drops of blood express passionate love right after the body has just died. Those are drops of blood sacrificed to atone for humanity's sins. The Apostle John saw that scene, and recognized the Bible's words: when slaughtering the Passover lamb, do not break a single bone. Thus, on the cross, Christ was truly the Passover Lamb. And the blood that was flowing from the side was the blood of salvation that had completely replaced the blood of the Passover lamb that had been smeared on the doors of the Jews' houses to save them from being murdered. The strange thing is that in human cruelty, God's love is revealed - when human cruelty used a sword to pierce the heart of Jesus, that is when the water and blood of salvation flowed out.

When it is said that blood and water flowed from Jesus' side in John's Gospel, it is meant to illustrate that God's heart was pouring out His life and love to cleanse humanity of its sins, enabling them to become a new creation, holy and pure, and pleasing to God.

Today, the Holy Fathers of the Church meditate on the event of Water and Blood flowing from the side of Jesus as an image of the birth of the Sacraments and the birth of the Church. It was when recording this event that the Apostle John used the concluding sentence ‘they will look upon him whom they have pierced', meaning to invite everyone to look up to contemplate the mystery of love, to contemplate the One who is King. The last drop of blood was given away because of love. Today, when we look at the image of Divine Mercy, we see blood and water flowing from His heart and side... This image often makes us afraid, because when we look at these images, we only think of suffering, torture, and death... But if we look with the eyes of love and reverence, then we will understand and experience how immense the love of Jesus is for people. This tremendous love comes from the Heart. His extremely kind heart. Saint John Chrysostom wrote and meditated on the love of God and said to each of us:

“Do not be afraid, the Cross is not the spear that pierces Me to death, but the lance that pierces death and sin. Those nails did not kill Me but made Me love you more dearly. These wounds do not make Me utter a word of complaint but bring you deeper into My heart. My body is stretched to open my arms to embrace you, not to increase the pain. For Me, the Blood that was shed is not a loss, but a ransom for you. So come, return to Me and experience what it is like for a Father to love his child. You will see Me return evil with good, repay insult with love, repay grievous injury with immense kindness.”

On the occasion of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Church wants us to meditate on the open love of the Heart of Jesus for all humanity.

- May the Sacred Heart of Jesus have mercy on us sinners, those who are weak and suffering in both body and soul. Please open Your Heart so that we can take refuge and draw from the overflowing source of divine grace because of Your love for us.

The open wound on Jesus' side invites us to discover the intense and mysterious love that burned His Heart. There is not a word, a gesture, or a moment of silence from Jesus that does not express intense and eternal love. It is from the heart pierced by the spear that the devotion to the Heart of Jesus arises in us. Contemplate His love and it will transform us.

Lord Jesus, we promise to honor Your Sacred Heart, not just in this month of June, but every day of our lives. May God's Sacred Heart rule our hearts, the hearts of each person in our family, and in our community, so that we can live and respond to some of the boundless love that Your Heart has for us.

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, be the King of all creation! May Your Heart be the King and rule my heart for the rest of my life...

Thanks be to God. Amen.