Atheists
consider the number of people that have been born in the history of the world
and then they consider God and surmise: No way! They can’t wrap their minds around God creating so many people and loving
each one. I can’t wrap my mind around it
either, until I consider what being God means.
It means no limits. It means
infinity. The Creator who made the
planets and holds them in orbit will never run out of abilities.
consider the number of people that have been born in the history of the world
and then they consider God and surmise: No way! They can’t wrap their minds around God creating so many people and loving
each one. I can’t wrap my mind around it
either, until I consider what being God means.
It means no limits. It means
infinity. The Creator who made the
planets and holds them in orbit will never run out of abilities.
And if he
made us, why wouldn’t he love us and know us intimately? He sent his only beloved Son to suffer and
die for us, so we may not be able to fully understand why or how he loves us,
but we know that he does.
made us, why wouldn’t he love us and know us intimately? He sent his only beloved Son to suffer and
die for us, so we may not be able to fully understand why or how he loves us,
but we know that he does.
Love of the Sacred Heart
The devotion
to the Sacred
Heart of Jesus is based on the burning love Jesus has for us. Between
1673 and 1675, Jesus appeared to St. Margaret Mary revealing His Divine Heart
to her. In one apparition He told her, “My Divine Heart is so passionately in
love with humanity, and with you in particular, that it cannot keep back the
pent-up flames of its burning charity any longer. They must burst out through
you.”
to the Sacred
Heart of Jesus is based on the burning love Jesus has for us. Between
1673 and 1675, Jesus appeared to St. Margaret Mary revealing His Divine Heart
to her. In one apparition He told her, “My Divine Heart is so passionately in
love with humanity, and with you in particular, that it cannot keep back the
pent-up flames of its burning charity any longer. They must burst out through
you.”
Jesus mourned the indifference and ingratitude of so much of humanity. He
asked for people to receive Holy Communion for the intention of reparation on 9
First Fridays. Jesus also requested that
there be a liturgical feast for His Sacred Heart in the Universal Church to be
celebrated eight days after the Solemnity of Corpus Christi. On that day He
asked for a solemn act of reparation for all the offenses heaped upon Him in
the Blessed Sacrament.
asked for people to receive Holy Communion for the intention of reparation on 9
First Fridays. Jesus also requested that
there be a liturgical feast for His Sacred Heart in the Universal Church to be
celebrated eight days after the Solemnity of Corpus Christi. On that day He
asked for a solemn act of reparation for all the offenses heaped upon Him in
the Blessed Sacrament.
He told St.
Margaret Mary: “I promise you in the excessive mercy of my Heart that my
all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on the
First Fridays in nine consecutive months the grace of final perseverance; they
shall not die in my disgrace, nor without receiving their sacraments. My divine
Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment” (Jesus to St.
Margaret Mary).
Margaret Mary: “I promise you in the excessive mercy of my Heart that my
all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on the
First Fridays in nine consecutive months the grace of final perseverance; they
shall not die in my disgrace, nor without receiving their sacraments. My divine
Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment” (Jesus to St.
Margaret Mary).
How God Loves Us
One the
feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Scripture readings spoke of God’s love
for us.
feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Scripture readings spoke of God’s love
for us.
“Thus says the Lord GOD:
I myself will look after and tend my sheep.
As a shepherd tends his flock
when he finds himself among his scattered sheep,
so will I tend my sheep.
…I myself will pasture my sheep;
I myself will give them rest, says the Lord GOD.” (EZ 34:11-16).
“The love of God has been poured out into our hearts
through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
For Christ, while we were still helpless,
died at the appointed time for the ungodly.
Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person,
though perhaps for a good person
one might even find courage to die.
But God proves his love for us
in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” (ROM 5:5B-11).
‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’
I tell you, in just the same way
there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents
than over ninety-nine righteous people
who have no need of repentance” (LK 15:3-7).
I really don’t
get it and don’t always feel loved, but I know through Scripture that I
am. So, I believe it. I am significant to
God because he loves me and asks for love in return.
get it and don’t always feel loved, but I know through Scripture that I
am. So, I believe it. I am significant to
God because he loves me and asks for love in return.
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But
the greatest of these is love” (Cor 13:13).
the greatest of these is love” (Cor 13:13).
