Texts taken from the Missalette “On Your Word” May-June 2022

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (S) (C)
Proper

FIRST READING

From the book of the prophet Ezekiel (Ez 34:11-16)
Thus says the Lord God: “I myself will search for my sheep and inspect them. As a shepherd inspects his flock when he finds himself among his scattered sheep, so I will inspect my sheep and gather them from all the places where they were scattered on cloudy and dark days. I will bring them out from among the peoples and gather them from the regions. I will bring them back to their land and pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the valleys and in all the inhabited places of the region. I will lead them to excellent pastures, and their grazing place will be on the high mountains of Israel; there they will lie down in fertile pastures and graze abundantly on the mountains of Israel. I myself will lead my sheep to pasture, and I will make them rest. Oracle of the Lord God. I will seek out the lost sheep and bring back the strayed one to the fold; I will bind up the injured and heal the sick; I will care for the fat and the strong; I will pasture them with justice.” – The Word of the Lord.

Commentary on the First Reading

At first glance, it may seem that this passage from the prophet Ezekiel has little to do with the solemnity of the Sacred Heart. In reality, through the image of the shepherd, the liturgy wishes to show how, already in the Old Testament, God cares for his people, even though they often turn away from him; he protects them and reveals to them the intimacy of his heart, made of benevolence and fidelity. It is in the heart of his Son, in Jesus, that the image of the shepherd finds its fullest expression and is manifested completely. In him, God has wished to convey to us the merciful love that moves his heart. He is always seeking someone who will welcome his love and, allowing themselves to be transformed by it, experience the sweetness and goodness of God's heart. It is clear that God's logic is diametrically opposed to ours. We should all recognize ourselves, just like Israel, as loved by God despite our sins, weaknesses, forgetfulness and betrayals. When you contemplate the heart of Jesus, remember that he loves you even when you become lost and turn away from his love.

SECOND READING

From the Letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Romans (Rom 5:5b-11)
Brothers and sisters, the love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the appointed time Christ died for the ungodly. Now, scarcely will someone die for a righteous person; perhaps someone might even dare to die for a good person. But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. How much more, then, since we have now been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from wrath. Indeed, if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, will we be saved by his life. Not only that, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. – The Word of the Lord.

Commentary on the Second Reading

Jesus died for you. Understanding the significance of this statement means remaining moved and grateful to the Lord for this choice of his. Saint Paul rightly says that no one would be willing to do this, not even for the person dearest to them. But Jesus did it for you. He did this to show you the love he has for you; his most sacred heart, whose solemnity we celebrate today, reminds you precisely of this infinite love. On the cross he was thinking of you, of the fact that through his sacrifice you would finally be free from sin and every form of slavery. Will you welcome this love today without resisting it? Will you make it the reason for your life? When this happens, you will be fully fulfilled and happy. From this arises devotion to the Sacred Heart as the acceptance of Jesus' love not only in its divine sphere, but in his human feeling: will, intelligence, sacrifice, death on the cross - everything is imbued with love for us. Today we contemplate that human and divine heart, let us immerse ourselves in it to attune ourselves to its beating, to make it feel our infinite gratitude.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Luke (Lk 15:3-7)
At that time, Jesus said to the Pharisees and scribes: “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? And when he finds it, he puts it on his shoulders with joy, goes home, calls his friends and neighbors and says to them: ‘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.” – The Gospel of the Lord. 

Commentary on the Gospel of the Day

The solemnity of the Sacred Heart is the feast of Jesus' love. The Gospel presents us with the parable of the lost sheep. This parable and the other two contained in chapter fifteen of Luke's Gospel are known as “the parables of God's mercy,” but they can also be called, perhaps even more aptly, “the parables of God's joy.” Joy expresses something more than mercy. Being a source of joy for someone is not simply being the object of mercy. True mercy cannot be separated from joy. The sheep that has been lost matters so much to the shepherd (Jesus) that he abandons all the other ninety-nine to go in search of that one alone, and his joy becomes greater when he finds it. André Louf, a monk of our time, describes the deep love and joy in Jesus' heart for each of us in this way: “This is how God truly loves us. He does not overwhelm us with a love that is sufficient unto itself, omnipotent and triumphant; he also begs for our love. We are not the only ones who depend on his love. He too, so to speak, wants to depend on ours. We are not the only ones who put down roots in his heart. He too wants to have his roots in ours. Indeed, he wants us to become his torment and his joy.”