Jesus' Sacred Heart Beats for You

It was a rainy morning on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I was tempted to skip Mass and go straight to work to avoid dealing with the weather, but a still small voice guided me to the cathedral doors to receive the Eucharist. I wandered into church not even realizing what was going to be commemorated, and minutes later, I heard our bishop speak these simple words that brought tears to my eyes:

“Jesus’ Sacred Heart beats for you.”

Beauty struck on this cold, rainy, and depressing day - like God's love so often does.

Do we really embrace this beautiful message? I know that I sometimes don’t.

I fear. I grieve. I get lost and confused. I wander down the wrong path. I sin. I run from God’s will. I’m like Paul. I do that which I don’t want to do. I feel embarrassed of my failures and unworthy of the love that He offers me.

Christ's love sometimes feels so intangible. I can't touch it. Sometimes I can't even feel it. He loves in a way that I don't expect and that I can't comprehend.

Despite all my shortcomings and inability to understand, Jesus’ Sacred Heart still beats for me. Every day. Every hour. Every second. He wants to be my greatest love and allure me into His arms and presence. He wants us to be love-struck, and for us to live for only Him and proclaim His greatness and glory to all, in response to that love. He wants us to give up the idols and other lovers that consume our attention and hearts.

And even as I write this, a song comes on and reminds me of this truth …

“Don’t you know I’ve always loved you even before there was time? Though you turn away, I tell you still, don’t you know I’ve always loved you, and I always will?” – Third Day, "I've Always Loved You"

Let us come to embrace the Sacred Heart that beats for us, and let it transform us so that our hearts beat for Him.