Jun 10, 2015 |
Day Eight: Love that reaches out to the poor and needy.
Opening Prayer: Father, we honor the Heart of your Son broken by our cruelty, yet the symbol of love’s triumph, the pledge of all we are called to be. Teach us to see Jesus Christ in the lives we touch, to offer Him fitting worship by love-filled service to our brothers and sisters. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture Reading: James 2: 14-18 Faith that does nothing in practice is thoroughly lifeless.
Luke 4: 16-21 He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor.
Reflection: The world is not even. It does not seem to be fair. There are the wealthy and the poor, the powerful and the powerless, the healthy and the sick. Even if we are poor and powerless and ill, there are always many who are worse off, who are more needy. The Christian attitude, in imitation of the love of the Sacred Heart, is to go out in a special way to the poor, the sick, the lonely, the weak.
Why? This was the attitude of Jesus. In the Scripture reading, Jesus tells us that this is precisely why he was sent. He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, sight to the blind, freedom to those in captivity. Later in the gospel of Luke, when the disciples of John came to ask Jesus if He was the Messiah, He told them to tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind recover sight, cripples walk, lepers are cured, and the poor have the good news preached to them (Luke 7: 22). The sign of Jesus, and the sign of his followers should be love – a love that reaches out in very special ways to the most needy.
The Catholic Church now speaks of a preferential or special love for the poor. This is love at its best when there is no hope of reward or return of love. Love consists in sharing, in giving what we can to one who has less or has no one who loves him. As the Heart of Jesus went out to the blind, to the widow whose child died, to the deaf, to the crowds, so our love should extend not only to those we know, not only to those who love us, but especially to those who need our love.
Resolution/Practice: 1. If you know someone who is widowed, visit that person, and bring a small gift of food or something to share with him or her.
2. Next few times that you meet a beggar on the street, instead of ignoring the person and passing by, accept their greeting, greet them, and if you can, give them something small so they can buy some food.
3. Inquire in your parish if you can assist with the work of the St. Vincent de Paul Society or an equivalent society that reaches out and helps the poor.
Jun 9, 2015 |
Day Seven: Love that is patient and forgiving.
Opening Prayer: Father, we have wounded the heart of Jesus your Son, but He brings us forgiveness and grace. Help us to prove our grateful love and make amends for our sins. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture Reading: Romans 12:9-21 Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.
Luke 23: 32-34 and 39-43 Father forgive them; they do not know what they are doing
Reflection: There are some persons we can’t seem to get along with. Tension more than peace comes between us. Perhaps they annoy us and get on our nerves. Our efforts to be kind and friendly to them never seem to succeed. We seem unable to change the situation, we are frustrated and tempted to give up. As a matter of fact, each situation varies; there is no one simple, single solution to solve problem cases.
But one thing is true. In every situation, the Christian is called upon to imitate the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This means we must be patient with others, and must be ready to forgive, not seven but seventy times seven (Mt. 18:21). In spite of his agony and suffering on the cross, the loving Heart of Jesus reached out even to those who hung him there. Father forgive them, they know not what they are doing. That same love reaches out to the good thief and promises him eternal life in paradise.
Be merciful as you heavenly father is merciful (Luke 6:36). True, this is easier said than done, but this is the challenge Jesus puts before us his followers. St. Francis of Assisi once wrote to a superior who had trouble with some of the young men: Love those who disobey you. Don’t ask more of them than the Lord does. Love them exactly as they are, don’t ask them to be better Christians first… Let there be no single person who, however much he may sin, goes away without first looking into your eyes and finding there mercy. And if he does not look for mercy, offer it to him anyway.
Resolution/Practice: 1. Every time we recite the Our Father, we pray for this spirit of mercy and forgiveness. Next time you recite the Our Father, think concretely of someone you have had difficulty with. Pray for that person, that God will bless him or her, and that will be patient and more forgiving too.
2. If you have recently had a quarrel with someone, think of some one way that you might show that you really love and care for that person and want to be at peace with him or her.
3. Resolve to frequent the Sacrament of Penance at least monthly and recall that penance calls for reconciliation not only with God but with all of God’s people.
This Novena in Honor of the Sacred Heart was written by Rev. Peter Schineller S.J. for the Apostleship of Prayer/League of the Sacred Heart.
Jun 8, 2015 |
Day Six: Love that is active, practical, and effective.
Opening Prayer: Father, for Your glory and our salvation, You appointed Jesus Christ eternal High Priest. May the people He gained for your by His blood come to share in the power of His cross and resurrection. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture Reading: 1 John 3: 14-18 Let us love in deed and in truth, and not merely talk about it
John 21:15-17 If you love me, feed by lambs, tend my sheep
Reflection: Who really imitates the love of the Sacred Heart? Who is really devoted to the Sacred Heart? The person who talks about love but doesn’t show it? Or the person who may not talk much about it, but quietly performs deeds of love? The answer is obvious. Jesus told us a story about the two sons (Matt. 21:28-31). The son who did go out and work in the vineyard is the one that Jesus admired and loved. He did what the father wanted. Our love too is to show itself in action, in deeds of love.
In the Acts of the Apostles, Peter gives a very brief and beautiful description of Jesus. He is the one who went about doing good works (Acts 10:38). His Sacred Heart was filled with love and compassion, and He constantly showed this love by His many deeds of healing and teaching.
One cold night, a man saw a child hungry and cold, without much clothing. He became angry and said to God: Why do you permit this? Why don’t you do something about this? For a while God said nothing. Then the conscience of the man spoke to him. It was the voice of God. God said, I did do something. I created you to help that child.
Resolution/Practice: 1. We commit not only sins by bad actions, but by omitting good actions. Think of how I may have, and should have helped someone, but was too tired or too busy.
2. Give something extra this week to the poor, through the St. Vincent de Paul Society or through your local parish.
3. Think of an elderly person who may be lonely and would enjoy a visit. Perhaps you could bring some small food or drink when you visit that person.
This Novena in Honor of the Sacred Heart was written by Rev. Peter Schineller S.J. for the Apostleship of Prayer/League of the Sacred Heart.
Jun 7, 2015 |
Day Five: Love that unites and binds together into community.
Opening Prayer: Loving Father, when your Son Jesus Christ was lifted high on the cross, He gave His life for us, so much did He love us. From His wounded side flowed blood and water, the fountain of sacramental life in the Church. To His open heart your Son invites all, to draw water with joy from the springs of salvation. Help us to respond generously to His invitation. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture Reading: Eph. 4: 11-16 Through Jesus the whole body grows, and builds itself up in love
John 10: 14-16 There shall be one flock and one shepherd
Reflection: Sin disrupts unity. In sinning we go our own way and disregard the rights of others and our obligations to others. There are too many gaps, divisions in the world, gaps between rich and poor, black and white, Christian and Christian, Christians and Muslims. This is not what God wills or wants!
Jesus came and comes to bring us together into one family. In His vision there will be one flock and one shepherd. Jesus called and gathered his apostles and disciples. His love united them. After the Resurrection, His Holy Spirit kept them together. In the Acts of the Apostles, we read that they were of one heart and one soul (Acts 4:32).
We are to imitate the love of the Sacred Heart, and be a source of unity and peace in our family and our community. First of all, in our families. If we truly love our children, and our brothers and sisters, we not only pray for them but with them. The family that prays together, stays together.
There is a story about the father who took his son regularly to football games. This took time and cost money. One day, a neighbor asked him: Do you like football games that much? The father answered, No, but I love my son that much. Love involves sacrificing our own interest for the good of others. Like the Good Shepherd, we lay down our life for others. If we love someone, we want to remain close to that person. In the African proverb, if someone loves you, he or she comes to your home.
Resolution/Practice: 1. Reflect on how you might regularly practice or improve your practice of family prayer.
2. Write or visit a friend whom you have not been in touch with. Jesus prayed that we may be one (John 17: 21-23)
3. Say the Rosary or other prayers for unity among all Christians and among all men and women of good will.
4. Make a special new effort to be reunited, reconciled with someone from whom you are estranged or alienated.
Jun 7, 2015 |
Day Four: Love that is persevering, enduring to the end.
Opening Prayer: Father, by the blood of your own Son, Jesus Christ, you have set us free and saved us from death. Continue your work of love within us, that by constantly celebrating the mystery of our salvation, we may reach the eternal life it promises. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture Reading: Romans 8: 31-39 Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord.
John 13: 1-17 Jesus would show His love for them to the end.
Reflection: We see many unfinished buildings, unfinished projects throughout Africa. Sometimes it is just that it is slow, and the funding money is not available. Or, a project is started, and a new governor comes in, and the project is abandoned. On a more personal level, sometimes we fail to follow through on our promises. We get distracted, we move on to something new. We forget, we lose interest.
But God’s love is faithful, enduring to the end. We gain insight into the persevering love of God from the prophet Isaiah. Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you (Is. 49:15).
The public life of Jesus is marked by love for His apostles and disciples, marked by love for the crowds. This love would persevere and continue till the end. Our Scripture reading from the gospel of John affirms this as Jesus continues His journey to the city of Jerusalem. There He will meet rejection and death. Jesus realized that the hour had come… He had loved his own in this world, and would show His love for them to the end. He did not turn back, did not slow down, did not shrink from what lay ahead. No, He manifested and practiced His love to the end. This quality of the Heart of Jesus is one we seek and need in our lives.
One beautiful example of love that remains faithful and perseveres to the end comes from Liv Ullman, a film actress. She saw a photograph of an old couple. The wife is in bed, and almost in a coma, living in another world, her eyes are empty. The husband on the bedside with a bowl and a spoon and he is feeding her, and looks at her so lovingly. He is making a quiet statement about his love for her. He is saying that what we once promised each other when we were young – love in sickness or in health – remains strong even today. Liv Ullman would like to make a movie from that picture, and she calls it the strongest and most beautiful statement of love that she had ever seen.
May we imitate the ever-faithful, enduring love of the Sacred Heart.
Resolution/Practice: 1. At the end of each day, resolve to spend five minutes reviewing the day. Thank God for the good. And if there is any unfinished business,= any obligations which I still have to fulfil, ask for the grace and strength to persevere to the end in bringing to completion what I have begun, what I have promised to do, or what I am obliged to do. I pray for a loving heart that follows through, and perseveres to the end, a heart like the Heart of Jesus.
2. Prayer every day for the grace of final perseverance… For example, in the Hail Mary, we say: Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
This Novena in Honor of the Sacred Heart was written by Rev. Peter Schineller S.J. for the Apostleship of Prayer/League of the Sacred Heart.
Day Seven: Love that is patient and forgiving.
Day Six: Love that is active, practical, and effective.
Day Five: Love that unites and binds together into community.
Day Four: Love that is persevering, enduring to the end.
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