That most precious of gifts: the Sacred Heart

The following is Fr. Dominic Peluse’s homily which he gave during the feast-day Mass at Sacred Heart Monastery on Friday, June 15. Approximately 350 attended this year’s celebration which is hosted by the monastery and the Province Development Office.

There was a revival meeting.  You know, one of those tent religious meetings – and the preacher was winding up his sermon.  He said: “Anyone who commits adultery, who violates the sacred bed, the adulterers and fornicators are going to Hell!”

A man in the back raised his hand in the air and yelled, “Amen, Brother!”

The preacher continued: “Anyone who cheats, who defames his brother or sister, who lies when his hand in on the Bible is going to Hell!”

Again, the same man in the back yells, “Amen, Brother!”

Finally, the preacher ended by saying, “Anyone who gambles or drinks alcohol, whiskey or beer is going to Hell!”

The same man starts to raise his hand – pauses – and says, “Well, now you’re getting personal!”

Today, Jesus is getting personal with every one of us. “Behold the heart that has loved you so much but receives only indifference, neglect and ingratitude from so many people – especially those whom he shown so much love…”

We live in a world where instead of loving people and using things, individuals use people and love things.  Apathy, coldness of heart, thanklessness:  these are actions that we rally against as people who are here, devoting ourselves to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Now, even though we are not all SCJs, Priests of the Sacred Heart by profession, we all have a call to witness to the three characteristics of the mission of our founder, Fr. Leo John Dehon.

They are Oblation, Reparation, and Immolation.

Oblation is a theological term meaning an offering, a sacrifice.  All of us are called to be a people who offer ourselves, our thoughts, and our actions to God out of love.  Now when we hear that word, “sacrifice,” our thoughts automatically think of giving up something. But the word, sacrifice, literally means, “To make holy.” By offering ourselves to God, to one another, we become more of who God wants us to become.

What follows is Reparation, that is, to build up the kingdom of God’s love.

Do you realize that every time you pray (and I mean, “pray” and not merely “say”) the Lord’s Prayer, you are praying that you want to be part of that reparation?

“Our Father, who are in heaven, hallowed by thy name.”

Here’s that part:  “Your kingdom come – your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

What do we need to do to repair our world, or our own families, or our own hearts?

What needs to be filled, to be healed, with the loving Heart of Jesus?

The answer to both: Reparation.

There are two times when the word, “as” is said in the Lord’s Prayer. That second time is just as important!

“Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

What is the opposite of the word, for-give?  After-give?

The word, “forgive” comes from an old English term meaning “to abstain from giving” – that is, to give up resentment.

To give up bitterness and hatred:  to for-give as Jesus forgives us.

Sometimes it is difficult to forgive – especially if you’ve felt betrayed, if you’ve been hurt. Does this person deserve my forgiveness?

Jesus was hurt, wasn’t he?  Think of Judas – even Peter.

And how many times do we have to give up that resentment? As many as seven times?  The heart of Jesus gives us a different number than seven, doesn’t He?

I remember a time I was on a retreat and the priest pointed to the crucifix and said, “Look how the hands of Jesus are – they’re not clenched – they are like this – Open and giving.”

And he concluded “that the least we love another person is the most we love Jesus.”   It certainly makes one think, doesn’t it?

Reparation – For-giving.

Then there’s that word, “Immolation” When I hear that word I think of something – or someone — going up in flames.

But another, better-sounding word might be, “Generosity”.  Again, Jesus tells us, “Behold the heart that has loved us so much – that burns with love – that burns with a fire, that burns with a passion.”

The Heart of Jesus is filled with generosity, mercy, forgiveness and peace.

Jesus asks us to demonstrate that same generosity, mercy, forgiveness and peace, that same “immolation”

• in the way we spend time with others,
• with the use of our gifts,
• in the resources that we share.
• in how we are Christ to one another!

Make no mistake; in some instances it does take a “sacrifice” to act that way – especially when what we seem to receive in return is indifference, neglect and ingratitude!

But isn’t that one of the actions that defines us as a Christian, as a follower, as a disciple of Jesus?

It was about 30 years ago that Pope John Paul II urged us to think of the biblical meaning of “Heart.” For in the bible, the heart stands for the deepest core of a person – it is what really matters in the eyes of God.

In our putting on this meaning of the heart that we celebrate today, we hope to become what we receive in the Eucharist, that is, to become more like Jesus

• in the way we think,
• the manner in which we speak,
• and in the way we show our love and forgiveness.

When we live our lives this way we will have within us a peace and a joy that can’t be measured.

In his message for World Youth Day this year, Pope Benedict spoke about that joy:

He said, “Whatever brings us true joy, whether the small joys of each day or the greatest joys in life, has its source in God, even if this does not seem immediately obvious. Christian joy consists in being open to God’s love and belonging to him.

Again, in this Eucharistic celebration in which we

• Meet the risen Christ,
• Listen to His word,
• and are nourished by His Body and Blood, we strive to become the living Gospel for all people to see and hear.

We often read about what some people leave others in their wills. Fr. Dehon, the founder of the Priests of the Sacred Heart, left this bequest:

I leave you that most precious of gifts, the Heart of Jesus.

Today – and everyday – Jesus is getting personal with every one of us.

So, if I say:  Everyone who is devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, who loves and serves those whom he loves, will, in the words of St. Paul, be filled with the fullness of God Himself…

To that I really hope that I will hear a sincere, “Amen, Brother,” from all of you!