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While devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus came into Catholic life in the 17th Century, it has deep biblical roots.
The theological meaning of the feast derives from the symbol of the heart, the concrete symbol of love. We are reminded of this symbolism of the heart in today's first reading: "the Lord set his heart on you and chose you ...the Lord loved you". Therefore, in this feast we celebrate God's love for us. That love was manifested in a very special way in Jesus, for love's true meaning is that God has loved us and has sent His son. Jesus came into this world as the incarnate presence of God's love for us. The human heart of Jesus represents both God's divine love for us and Jesus' human love for us.
The purpose of the feast is also biblical, for the bible calls upon us to respond to God's love. It is only by loving God as fully as we can that we shall possess life (cf. Deut 6:6, 30:6. The love that we offer God in response cannot be merely emotional: love means we will follow God's ways and live according to His word (cf. Deut 11:1, 19:9).
Lord Jesus, we come to You, for You are gentle and humble of heart. May we always find rest in Your love.
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DAILY OFFERING
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Eternal Father, I offer You everything I do this day; my thoughts, words, joys and sufferings. Grant that, vivified by the Holy Spirit and united to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, my life this day may be of service to You and to others. I also pray that all those preparing for marriage discover in Sacrament the source of Christ's grace for living a fithful and fruitful love. Amen.
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PRAYING WITH THE CHURCH
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INTENTION
That our society should, with concrete acts of Christian and brotherly love, come to the aid of the millions of refugees who live in extreme need and abandonment.
Elaboration
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