Today’s solemnity of the Sacred Heart invites us once again to contemplate the heart of Jesus, the person of Jesus who showed us what it is to love completely, unconditionally, and for always. A mere recall of how Jesus lived in this world, or fulfilled his mission, is enough to make us realize what type of heart Jesus had, or what we mean by “sacred” when we refer to his heart.

It is not just “sacred” because of an abstract quality of holiness or sacredness it possesses. It is “most sacred” because of how it beat towards the world, humanity, and the concrete predicaments of individuals he came across.

We remember how, according to the Gospels, he was moved so deeply (Greek splangchnizomai) at seeing the crowds that were like sheep without a shepherd (Mt 9:36; Mk 6:34). Or how he drove out evil spirits, thus liberating people from demonic slavery. Or when he fed hungry crowds after filling their souls with words of life and consolation. Or when he forgave sinners and tax collectors who were prejudged by the self-righteous, especially by the religious authorities. Or when he turned his attention even to pagans like the Syrophoenician woman or the centurion with a sick servant, etc.

All these manifest what kind of heart Jesus had. And even when he was unjustly condemned and crucified like a criminal, his heart never ceased to beat forgiveness for them. Indeed, to say that Jesus had a sacred heart is too much of an understatement.

Gospel • Luke 15:3-7

Jesus addressed this parable to the Pharisees and scribes: “What man among 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 does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his arrival home, he calls together 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.”

Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2025,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.