Bible
Study: Ezekiel 34, 11 to 16. Romans 5, 5 to 11 and Luke
15, 3 to 7.
As we know, the word “heart”
can be used either literally or figuratively. In its literal sense, the heart
refers to a physical organ in the body that is responsible for pumping and distribution
of blood across the body. Blood provides the body with oxygen and nutrients,
and also assists in the removal of metabolic wastes. The function of the heart
is so central and so important that it can be said to be the single most
important organ in the human body. It is to a human being what an engine is to
a vehicle.
Given the ultimate
importance of the heart physically, the word heart is often used figuratively
to refer to that which makes him capable of love. In this sense, a person’s
heart would then refer to what he considers important, how he views reality and
above all, how he relates with or treats others.
From the language of
scripture, we can decipher that there are different types of hearts, for
instance, in Ezekiel 36, 26. We read: “A new heart I will give you, and a new
spirit I will put within you; and I will take out of your flesh the heart of
stone and give you a heart of flesh.” To say that one has a heart of stone is
to say he or she is brutal, merciless, lacks human sympathy, extremely
stubborn, unreasonable and unrepentant. These qualities are the exact opposite
of the kind of heart we see in Jesus Christ.
Today we celebrate the Sacred
Heart of Jesus, not the physical organ that pumped blood in his body but that
which made Jesus shower us so much love by leaving his throne in heaven to die
for us despite the fact that we were still sinners. As St. Paul says in our second
reading today. “God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners
Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we are now justified by his blood, much
more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.” Romans 5, 8 to 9.
Today we celebrate the fact
that Jesus had great sympathy and concern for our good; that he would not let
us go astray, that he leaves the ninety-nine in search of the one who is lost, that
the love Jesus has for us is like the love of a good shepherd for his flock.
Hence in both our first reading and our Gospel passage, we see an emotional
description of how love reaches out to us.
“I seek out my sheep; and I
will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of
clouds and thick darkness. And I will bring them out from the peoples, and
gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land; and I
will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the fountains, and in all the
inhabited places of the country. I will feed them with good pasture, and upon
the mountain heights of Israel shall be their pasture; there they shall lie
down in good grazing land, and on fat pasture they shall feed on the mountains
of Israel.” Ezekiel 34, 12 to 14. When next you meditate or pray before Jesus
in the Blessed Sacrament, try to repeat these words to him.
Today we celebrate the fact that
the heart of Jesus is a merciful heart. Jesus was able to say on the cross “Forgive
them Father, for they know not what they do.” Jesus does not condemn us for our
sins rather he takes delight in our repentance. There is more joy in heaven
over one repentant sinner than over ninety nine men who have no need of
repentance.
Finally, we are called today
to be reassured that despite the challenges we may be facing in life today, the
economic crisis of our nation occasion by the steady fall in the value of the naira,
the rising spate of insecurity, the near-absence of electricity and so on, we
have a God whose heart feels deeply for our good, a God who has promised to
lead us his flock into green pastures and to drink from beautiful fountains. This
should bolster our faith and devotion to Jesus and make his emulate his heart
by learning to love others as he loved us, by learning to forgive others as he
did, by learning to seek out the lost sheep.
Let us pray:
Lord Jesus, take from us the
heart of stone, give our leaders a heart of flesh that they may feel the pain
of the common man and turn things around for good in this nation. Amen.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus;
have mercy on us.
Good morning.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you.
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