We have other heart problems. If someone criticizes us, we "take it to heart." All of us have had spiritual "heart failure," when our hearts have failed to love because we were afraid to be vulnerable. All of us have had spiritual "heart attacks," when our love life has gone all wrong, or we've lost a loved one, and it feels as if we've been stabbed in the heart.
Our spiritual heart problems are why we need to remember, praise, worship, and welcome into our hearts the Sacred Heart of Jesus. June is the month in which we honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus: both his physical heart and his spiritual heart. June 8 is actually the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. When we think of what hearts symbolize, we think of love, courage, compassion and mercy. No one has loved us more or better than Jesus! No one has taught us more perfectly about God's Love for us than Jesus, Son of God, Who gave His life and death for us. The Heart of Jesus symbolizes his whole being.
In fact, Pope Francis says that the Heart of Jesus is the ultimate symbol of God's mercy, "but it is not an imaginary symbol, it is a real symbol, which represents the center, the source from which salvation for all humanity gushed forth."
Jesus was a Jew, and used the word "heart" in the true Jewish sense. The Jews considered the heart to be both the physical working center of the body, and the center of a person's emotional-intellectual-moral activities. So, in the psalms, God warns us not to let our hearts go astray. And Jesus tells us to keep watch over our spiritual hearts: "Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Jesus is telling us to center our hearts on the Reality of God and the reality of our daily lives, where we find God. God lives in the eyes of our children, the hands of our wife, cooking the family's dinner, the laughter of our grand-children, the sobs of a frightened friend in a hospital waiting room, the trembling of a grief-stricken parishioner waiting to talk to us. In the dust, the dirt, the mess, of our physical and mental labors we pick up and shoulder while our backs and our feet and our brain circuits complain.
Yet Jesus understands all this, all this laying down of our hearts for others. And he promises that we can lean on him for strength. He says, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart. (Mt 11:28-29)” If we are humble, we know that we can't do it without him, can't endure the daily grind without centering our hearts in the Sacred Heart of the One who is not only loving, but IS Love!
Even when we fail and fall, grow irritated and self-pitying, we can still rise and begin to love again. "Do not let the past disturb you, just leave everything in the Sacred Heart and begin again with joy. – St. Teresa of Calcutta
When our hearts have "heart failure," a failure to love, because we're afraid to be vulnerable, we can meditate on the wounded Heart of Christ. The word "vulnerable" comes from the word "vulnus" which means "wound." We're afraid to be vulnerable because we're afraid of the risk, afraid of being wounded. Yet, who has ever been more vulnerable and compassionate to others' wounds than Jesus; who has been more hurt by a lack of love than Jesus, whose wounded heart has saved us?
Jesus' whole life was the expansion of his spiritual heart to enclose more and more of the human race. From his family first, he grew to know and love his friends. From his friends, his heart traveled out to the whole people of Israel, whom he taught, healed, listened to, and told that their sins were forgiven. From the devout Jews, his Heart reached out to the sinners, the people on the fringes, whom he ate with, counseled, healed. Then his heart expanded still more, to tenderly hold the Samaritan woman, the Roman centurion, the Syro-Phoenician woman, even finally the thieves on the cross and the soldiers who tortured him and thrust a lance into his side... "Father, forgive them" he said, expanding his heart to hold all of us.
Pope Francis reminds us, "Then there is the key story of the death of Christ according to John. This evangelist in fact testifies to what he saw on Calvary: that a soldier, when Jesus was already dead, pierced his side with a spear, and from the wound flowed blood and water (cf. Jn 19.33-34). John recognized in that – apparently random – sign, the fulfillment of prophecies: from the heart of Jesus, the Lamb slain on the cross, flow forgiveness and life for all men." This Image inspired Sr. Faustina and the wonderful painting of Jesus, the Divine Mercy, blood and water flowing from his Sacred Heart. (photo below)
"He who knows how to forgive prepares for himself many graces from God. As often as I look upon the cross, so often will I forgive with all my heart.” (Sister Faustina).
Being as vulnerable as the Sacred Heart of Jesus requires us to open our hearts to people of other cultures, such as Native Americans and African-Americans, who also take the wounded Sacred Heart of Jesus to THEIR hearts. They know and believe that the Sacred Heart of Jesus understands and embraces them in their pain and struggles.
“And you, dear souls, why this coldness and indifference… Do I not know that family cares… household concerns… and the requirements of your position in life… make continual calls upon you?… But cannot you spare a few minutes in which to come and prove your affection and your gratitude?… spare a few moments to visit and receive [in Communion] this Prisoner of Love! Were you weak or ill in body, surely you would find time to see a doctor who would cure you? Come, then, to One Who is able to give both strength and health to your soul, and [One Who] watches for you, calls for you, and longs to see you at His side.”
Come to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in prayer:
"Oh Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in You."
Prayer of Trust to the Sacred Heart (in Times of Stress)
Holy Heart of Jesus, Sweet Sanctuary of rest,
bring peace to my soul and settle my spirit,
especially in the matter of_________________.
I vow to place all of my worries and fears
into the wound of your Sacred Heart,
there to be tended to in accordance with your perfect will,
which desires only the best and highest good.
Your love alone is enough, and I surrender to it;
clinging to the hope of a swift resolution
and trusting with confidence in all of your promises.
Amen.
Prayer to the Sacred Heart in Times of Loss or Betrayal
Sweet Jesus, your heart beats for the brokenhearted,
and you know their pain.
You experienced loss when your friend Lazarus died,
and betrayal when your friends abandoned and rejected you in
your darkest hours.
I ask you for relief and release right now in this time of grief.
I cry out to your heart, seeking comfort and consolation.
Take this present heartache and unite it to your own for the good of others,
especially _____________________.
Ease my sorrow,
and fill my heart with hope and light to face another day.
Amen.