The scriptures today for the feast of the Sacred Heart portray God not as a vengeful, punishing God, but as a God who searches for sinners so He can save them. God is searching for you and for me! In the first parable Jesus describes a shepherd searching for a lost sheep in the desert. When he finds it, he does not scold it for wandering off and becoming lost, but puts it on his shoulders and brings it home with great joy.

Likewise Jesus portrays God as a woman searching for her lost coin. She sweeps the house, lights a lamp and probably spends more time and energy searching for her lost coin than it is probably worth and probably spends more than its value in celebrating its finding with her friends.

Christianity is not so much about us seeking God as it is about God seeking us. It is about God forgiving us, welcoming us and inviting us to the Eucharist, sinners though we are. While we were God's enemies Christ died for us so we could be reconciled to God. We are invited to find refuge in the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Jesus continues to intercede for us with God, continues to seek us out when we go astray or grow weary. Jesus keeps knocking on the closed door of our hearts waiting for us to open to him so he can open his Sacred Heart to us so we might know the depth of love which can love one's enemies even to the point of dying for them.