Both the first reading and the Gospel today have one resounding message for us: To respond in authentic truth and love no matter the circumstances!
In the first reading, St. Paul is appealing to the early Christians to live with great integrity. Even in hardships, they are encouraged to be exemplary models of truth and love, essentially, allowing nothing to shake their faith or Christian duty.
Similarly, in the Gospel, Jesus exhorts us to seek forgiveness and to always respond with great humility even in the face of criticism and injustice.
…through the Sacred Heart of Jesus
To respond lovingly in the face of hate or deceit is not easy, nor is it for the faint of heart. Our hearts are definitely not strong enough for the challenge, but there is one heart that is – The Sacred Heart of Jesus.
On June 27th (in about ten days), we will be celebrating the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states this in #2669:
The prayer of the Church venerates and honors the Heart of Jesus just as it invokes his most holy name. It adores the incarnate Word and his Heart which, out of love for men, he allowed to be pierced by our sins.
So, Jesus, out of his astounding love, literally poured out his heart for us while we were still sinners, that is, even before we began to live our lives of faith earnestly. That is some serious and extravagant love! If he did this for us, can we muster up love for our neighbor who slights, insults, rejects, or ignores us?
On our own, probably not, but with the graces and power of the love of His Sacred Heart – ABSOLUTELY!
How can we prepare for this Solemnity? Let us not waste any time. Our church provides many beautiful ways to do so. Pray a Novena to the Sacred Heart leading up to it. This special feast day will fall on a Friday, so consider engaging in a penitential practice such as fasting. Code of Canon Law 1250 states:
The penitential days and times in the universal Church are every Friday of the whole year and the season of Lent.
Prayer and fasting are always effective ways to pray with our whole selves – body and soul! Make time in your day to attend Mass and or spend a Holy Hour in Eucharistic Adoration. Our beautiful Savior is never outdone in generosity.
There is a prayer poem, often attributed to St. Teresa of Calcutta, who sums up the message of today’s readings so beautifully. Pray this poem, asking Jesus to highlight which verses you most need to hear.
Mother Teresa’s Anyway Poem
People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered; Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building; someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you have got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God; It was never between you and them anyway.
