Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. What a gift! The readings today point to something He wants us to really embrace, His Sacred Heart full of pure love! You all know that the word “love” is overly used. We say we love this and we love that, but that’s not really true. It’s more like, “I really like something”, and perhaps we like it a lot, but we don’t really love it. The older I get the more I realize how God’s love is way beyond our love. We get those little perks when for a few seconds we feel his love in a profound way.
Jesus, once again, brings His sheep into the picture in today’s Gospel. But wait! One is missing. He leaves the ninety-nine and goes looking for the missing one. You and I are the missing ones. Do we really feel that Jesus loves us that much? We might say yes with our words, but our actions may show something different. We can look at the disciples and see the suffering they endured and ask ourselves if we are willing to suffer that much for our Lord too.
Love doesn’t really exist without mercy. I would like to share with you a mercy story from our family. My wife’s stepfather really liked sailing! Weather permitting, every Friday after work, he and my mother-in-law would head for either Lake Macatawa or Lake Michigan. One day, a terrible squall came up very suddenly. The 30-foot boat was bouncing around like a ping pong ball. They were really frightened and feared for their lives! He reached out to God, pouring out his heart to the Lord and asking Him to calm the storm. The storm calmed very quickly! He could not tell the story without weeping.
It is our duty to share our Divine Mercy stories with those whose faith is weak, not to brag, but to share how much God really loves us. And while you’re at it, you might also try praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet. His Sacred Heart is so full of love and mercy for us and He longs to share it with all of His children.
Serving with joy!
Hoy celebramos la Solemnidad del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús. ¡Qué regalo! Las lecturas de hoy nos indican algo que Él quiere que abracemos realmente: ¡Su Sagrado Corazón lleno de puro amor! Todos ustedes saben que la palabra “amor” se utiliza demasiado. Decimos que amamos esto y amamos aquello, pero eso no es realmente cierto. Es más como decir: “Me gusta mucho algo”, y quizás nos guste mucho, pero en realidad no lo amamos. Mientras más me voy envejeciendo, más me doy cuenta de que el amor de Dios va mucho más allá de nuestro amor. Recibimos unos regalitos cuando por unos segundos sentimos su amor de una manera muy profunda.
Jesús, una vez más, trae a sus ovejas a la escena en el Evangelio de hoy. Pero, ¡esperen! Falta una. Deja las noventa y nueve y va a buscar a la que falta. Tú y yo somos los que faltan. ¿Realmente sentimos que Jesús nos ama tanto? Podemos decir que sí con palabras, pero nuestras acciones pueden mostrar algo diferente. Podemos observar a los discípulos y ver el sufrimiento que soportaron y preguntarnos si estamos dispuestos a sufrir tanto por nuestro Señor también.
El amor no existe realmente sin la misericordia. Me gustaría compartir con ustedes una historia de misericordia de nuestra familia. ¡Al padrastro de mi esposa le encantaba navegar! Si el clima lo permitía, todos los viernes después del trabajo, él y mi suegra se dirigían al lago Macatawa o al lago Michigan. Un día, de repente se levantó una borrasca terrible. El barco de 30 pies rebotaba como una pelota de ping pong. ¡Estaban realmente asustados y temían por sus vidas! Él se acercó a Dios, le abrió su corazón al Señor y le pidió que calmara la tormenta. ¡La tormenta se calmó muy rápidamente! No podía contar la historia sin llorar.
Es nuestro deber compartir historias de la Divina Misericordia con aquellos cuya fe es débil, no para alardear, sino para compartir cuánto Dios realmente nos ama. Y mientras tanto, capaz puedes intentar rezar la Coronilla de la Divina Misericordia también. Su Sagrado Corazón está tan lleno de amor y misericordia por nosotros que anhela compartirlo con todos sus hijos.
¡Sirviendo con alegría!
Deacon Dan Schneider is a retired general manager of industrial distributors. He and his wife Vicki have been married for over 55 years. They are the parents of eight children and thirty-one grandchildren. He has a degree in Family Life Education from Spring Arbor University. He was ordained a Permanent Deacon in 2002. He has a passion for working with engaged and married couples and his main ministry has been preparing couples for marriage.
Featured Image Credit: Fr. Barry Braum, unsplash.com/photos/gray-concrete-statue-of-man-9_ki3H80-gU
The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.
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