DAILY HOMILIES #heart

The heart of Jesus is first sacred because it is the heart of God. It is also a typical shepherd’s heart, a heart so full of love and concern for the good of humanity who are His Sheep.

Are you having trouble controlling your sexual appetite? Do you find yourself falling into the sin of adultery by thoughts, words, or actions? Are you struggling with fornication, masturbation, and unchastity in one form or another? Jesus has the solution for you: Start from the root - “If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away.” (Matthew 5:29). In other words, start by uprooting your bad thoughts and unholy desires. Do not leave any room for lustful wishes. When you look at a person, let their beauty remind you of the beauty and perfection of God.

Pray, do what you can, and leave the let God do the rest. Having committed a problem in God’s hands, you are not permitted to take it back. Worrying about something you have prayed for already is a sign of doubting what God can do.

Wash the inside of your cup. Believe that you can do without sin. Make efforts like the men who brought their paralytic friend to Jesus through the roof. Let Jesus see your faith and He would reward you with grace to overcome temptation. Don’t look down on yourself.

In the midst of all these, we are given an opportunity today to reflect and ponder on the Sacred Heart of Jesus; the heart that is so full of love, so full of mercy, so quick to forgive, so selfless, so heavenly minded, so trustworthy and caring. A heart from which blood and water flowed when it was pierced by the soldiers on the cross; blood symbolizing sacrifice and water symbolizing washing, renewal, baptism, rebirth.