We Don't Want to Hear It

Jun. 7: Solemnity of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

Today is the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, and so it’s a great day to say the Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It might feel repetitive and long,¹ but that aids in reflecting on Jesus. Let the words wash over you, and instead of considering their meaning, consider Jesus himself. They very repetitiveness is what allows your mind to drift to Jesus personally.

Here’s a short to follow along with—

And a bit longer version—

Reading 1

Hos 11:1, 3-4, 8c-9

Thus says the LORD: When Israel was a child I loved him, out of Egypt I called my son. Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, who took them in my arms; I drew them with human cords, with bands of love; I fostered them like one who raises an infant to his cheeks; Yet, though I stooped to feed my child, they did not know that I was their healer.

My heart is overwhelmed, my pity is stirred. I will not give vent to my blazing anger, I will not destroy Ephraim again; For I am God and not a man, the Holy One present among you; I will not let the flames consume you.

The prophet Hosea sees the Exodus as the true beginning of Israel. God loved them so much that He rescued them from slavery, but like an ungrateful child, they didn’t appreciate it. We unfortunately do not always recognize love for what it is.

Responsorial Psalm

Is 12:2-3, 4, 5-6.

R. (3) You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
God indeed is my savior;
I am confident and unafraid.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
With joy you will draw water
at the fountain of salvation.
R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name;
among the nations make known his deeds,
proclaim how exalted is his name.
R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement;
let this be known throughout all the earth.
Shout with exultation, O city of Zion,
for great in your midst
is the Holy One of Israel!
R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.

Isaiah does appreciate what God has done. Israel often finds itself in trouble, a tiny nation at the crossroads of the world. Only God can save them, and us.

Reading 2

Eph 3:8-12, 14-19

Brothers and sisters: To me, the very least of all the holy ones, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the inscrutable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for all what is the plan of the mystery hidden from ages past in God who created all things, so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the principalities and authorities in the heavens. This was according to the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness of speech and confidence of access through faith in him.

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

God’s plan began with Israel, but it fell on Paul to spread the Good News to the whole world. The Sacred Heart of Jesus is not limited by geography.

Alleluia

Mt 11:29ab

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Take my yoke upon you, says the Lord;
and learn from me, for I am meek and gentle of heart.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Jesus’ yoke isn’t meant to be a burden, but a farm implement that helps us work with him.

Interestingly, in the chapter before today’s first reading, Hosea says he tried to yoke the tribe of Ephraim to “Sow for yourselves justice, reap the reward of loyalty,” but they refused. Rather than seeing it as a constraint, we should see it as a guide.

Gospel

Jn 19:31-37

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.

So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out.

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. For this happened so that the Scripture passage might be fulfilled: Not a bone of it will be broken. And again another passage says: They will look upon him whom they have pierced.

John goes into excruciating detail about the death of our Lord for two reasons. First, to remind us that He was, in fact, human. Death is ugly, often painful. We don’t want to hear about Jesus being stabbed and bleeding, which is exactly why we do need to hear it.

Which brings me to the second reason John describes the blood and water—he wants us to know that Jesus suffered through all of that for us. He loves us so much, He believes we’re worth that horrible death. He didn’t have to let the soldiers nail Him to a cross and stab Him with a lance. He chose to allow it to happen, for us.