SACRED LOVE

Today is the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and it should remind us of the love that God has for us since time immemorial. It goes as far back to our salvation history or covenant history from the time of Adam & Eve and Noah and dates way back to 1800 BC during the time of Abraham, Moses (1200), David (means the favored one,1000), Exodus (600) to the birth of our Lord Jesus. From this time line we can see significant events that happened from the time of Creation when God created man who fell into sin and became unfaithful and how God continuously called us back to Him by showing us who He really is throughout the length of time. Like the period (721) when Hosea started to prophesy for God and ministered. There are dramatic events like the entrance of the Israelites to the promised land and the pockets of rebellion as they took over the 12 tribes. They settled into a life of monarchy (kings) from their 1st king (Saul) to King David and King Solomon. The time of David is the greatest time of the people of God when the kingdom grew bigger while the time of Solomon is the time when the temple is at its best owing to the "wisdom of Solomon which was manifested in the 3000 proverbs and 1005 songs he wrote. But it was also marked by an event when the kingdom was divided due to Solomon's involvement to 1005 wives. It was a very difficult time marked by political upheaval, assassinations and adultery in the manner of the people's worship to Yahweh mixed with the pagan god, Baal. This was also the time when Hosea came into view. During that time of existing oppressive situation, Hosea married Gomer a prostitute whom he loves but was unfaithful and deserted him. His painful relationship with his wife symbolizes the covenant relationship of God's love and relationship to man. Hosea's life demonstrated to us his immense love for his wife despite all the unfaithfulness and deception he experienced from their relationship. Hosea can be described as a book of relationship and fidelity. God's faithfulness despite our unfaithfulness. God's fidelity to his people is described in terms of marriage, a divine love, fiery and affectionate for Israel as the "bride of God." The love of God can be likened to a man who married a woman out of his great love for her. How are we to relate that kind of love when it comes to our longing and desire to be in union with God in the sacraments especially when we become one in the Holy Eucharist. Is it the same fiery and compassionate love of a man for the woman he longs to make love to? God throughout time has sent emissaries, patriarchs, prophets and kings to declare His great love for us and in the fullness of time has ultimately revealed His naked love in its entirety by sending His only begotten Son Jesus who was not spared to suffer and die on the cross just to show His great love for us. Amen. Hallelujah!

Deuteronomy 7:6-11

...Understand, then, that the LORD, your God, is God indeed, the faithful God who keeps his merciful covenant down to the thousandth generation...

Today’s special occasion reminds me of a lot of miracles and unforgettable events in my life through the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Looking back at my life's time line most especially when I first had this devotion, I can never deny and forget for the rest of my life the dramatic and significant events that happened to me. My novena to the Sacred Heart and St. Jude Thaddeus during that matter of life and death situation for my 1st born son opened up the door for miracles to happen. In a prayer meeting I attended during that time which happened to be the 9th day of my novena, the prayer leader whom I just met and did not know of my novena neither of my pregnancy nor would even suspect of it announced her vision of Jesus carrying a baby standing in the middle of our prayer circle and specifically described Him wearing the Sacred Heart attire and said these words, "I have a message for my daughter, consecrate the baby in your womb." I have witnessed the revelation of God's great love to me in its naked and stark reality. Especially when I gave birth to Jude, my 1st born son, as proof of His undeniably awesome and unbelievable miracle when he came out normal and healthy despite my problematic pregnancy. From that day forward, God never ceased to amaze me every single turn in my life since His sacred love is beyond comprehension. Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 8 and 10

R: The Lord’s kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.

1 Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all my being, bless his holy name. 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.

Our God is a perfect and precise God. No hit and miss and trial and error kind of thing. I am continuously amazed at how God speaks to us in a very specific way. Unless we relate our life to the scriptures and really transform us to the likeness of Jesus then everything that we learn will be for nothing. As we come to believe in what we've heard, learned and witnessed about God, today's 2nd reading poses the same challenge to fulfill the scripture passage in our lives. Amen. Hallelujah!

1 John 4:7-16

7 Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. 8 Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.

As Catholics we have this great devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus which we now celebrate today. Our Catholic practices can be found in the bible. God has made a covenant with His people and has been fathering us in order to bring us together into His loved flock in heaven. The devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is widespread all throughout the world. We are body and soul and need the external festivities. We have to remember that it's one thing to celebrate this great solemnity and it's another to live His great love and make it alive in our daily lives. It has to be more than a mere devotion and celebration. We encounter people who have a condescending and sneering attitude towards popular devotion of the Catholic Church and consider them as meaningless routines. We are reminded through these devotions that there is no material or event in our lives that can not be directed for the greater glory of God. Although sometimes we come to a point when these practices and devotions that lift us up simply become like magic and opium for our troubles and miseries. We fail to grasp the essence of these devotions and treat them like the hypocrites in prayer and the pagans with some superstitious beliefs. Some Catholics fall into the trap of looking at these as a never fail prayer. Sometimes there is a magical or manipulative misuse like an abracadabra. It should not predispose us to a ritualistic behavior and must not lead us down to the path of nowhere. Although the absence of it may appear as we are like those idealists that once saved we are always saved so there is no need for such devotions. We may fall into the dangerous scenario as if we are putting God to the test. These devotions should be a means of communication between God and His people. God is not telling us to do away with these things but rather do it with a sincere and repentant heart. It should blossom into a relationship that is pictured in today's gospel. God is continuously searching for us and wants to bring us together in a family of love. Our devotion to the Sacred Heart should develop in us a confidence to draw near to God as He invites us in today’s gospel. Amen. Hallelujah!

Matthew 11:25-30

... Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”