Sacred Heart of Jesus, I Place all My Trust in YOU

GOSPEL

Jesus has accomplished the task His Father sent Him to do. He has given His life for us. All that remains now is for God to raise Jesus from the dead. We all know this has been done, too. Why then do we doubt God’s love for us? Surely there is no greater sign of His love than the resurrection of Jesus and offering us a share in it!

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
God first loved us and sent His Son as expiation for our sins.

John 19:31-37
31 Since it was preparation day, in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath, for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken and they be taken down. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, 34 but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out. 35 An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true; he knows that he is speaking the truth, so that you also may come to believe. 36 For this happened so that the scripture passage might be fulfilled: “Not a bone of it will be broken.” 37 And again another passage says: “They will look upon him whom they have pierced.”

BECAUSE...

The Gospel today can very well answer the four Ws: What happened? The crucifixion. Who are involved? Jesus and the two criminals who were crucified with Him. Where did it happen? In the Hill of Golgotha or “The Place of Skull.” Why did it happen?
The answer, which starts with because, is followed by a longer story — a love story. In fact, the greatest love story of all time, spanning 33 years — from Bethlehem to Calvary, from Calvary to the empty tomb.
The Gospel depicts the sufferings that Jesus had to go through because of His immense love for us. The Good Friday spirit is perfectly captured. It speaks of love beyond all telling — of a God who chose to be a man and suffer the scandal of the cross if only to save us and offer the highest form of sacrifice: death on the cross.
The scene took a few hours but to us, it left an indelible mark in the hearts of Christians who feel that we are not even worthy of such a sacrificial love. Jesus was at His most pitiful state. Ironically, the pitiful Jesus pities us: “My heart is overwhelmed, my pity is stirred.” He, who suffered tremendously, offered everything out of His compassion and love for us. As Blessed John Paul II said, “Mercy is the greatest expression of love.”
And on his side, a lance was pierced. “And immediately blood and water flowed.” It is the moment of grace. As the prayer to the Divine Mercy suggests, “From this wounded side flowed an ocean of mercy.” The Wounded Side has become a relevant representation of a heart most pure, a heart most undefiled, a heart most enduring.
May this love story borne out of His Sacred Heart continue to inspire us to love even more, to learn the meaning of sacrifice, to practice selflessness, to endure sufferings with the joy of a Christian, to be compassionate at all times, and to bear witness to the Gospel of Love.
We have all reasons to be happy and to love unconditionally — because He loves us.Fr. Erick Y. Santos, SFO

REFLECTION QUESTION: Are we ready to be rooted and grounded in love, and to make our hearts resemble Jesus’ heart?

Jesus, make our hearts like to Thine. Amen.

Source: http://www.kerygmafamily.com/