HIS Heart Throbs for You!
Blog Post #35
June is my favorite month of the year. It’s the month when I feel I can actually breathe. It’s the month I got married! And it’s the month our son, Kyle, and our daughter-in-law, Mallory, gave us our first grandchild, Quinn Marie, who is just one week old today!
You see, Jesus has a heart…an actual human heart…just like ours. And His heart feels all the same emotions that our hearts feel…and a whole lot more! I’m not sure you’ve ever heard it phrased quite like this, but, the truth is, His heart throbs for you! In fact, He’s crazy in love with you!!
But let’s be real…for many people, (even Christians), it’s nigh impossible to fully comprehend that kind of love. We know from Scripture and tradition that there is absolutely nobody, and I mean NOBODY, who loves us the way Jesus does. Pause on that one and give it a serious minute or two. (Pause) Thoughts? Did you gain any clarity or come to any solid conclusions?
I didn’t…not really. And I think it’s because God’s love is so vast and deep and rich and divine. His personality, resources, possibilities and prayers for us are so infinite, that He is, in many ways, unknowable and incomprehensible. We’re simply not humanly capable of taking it all in. But, still, in my time of pausing, (I really did try), and I did have a couple of thoughts.
One thought that sadly came to my mind was the fact that there are many people throughout the course of history who have and do struggle to feel or know the love of Jesus, and that makes me seriously devastated…especially as I consider the probable causes: no knowledge of Jesus, poor role models in faith formation, too much personal pain from a plethora of sources (how could a loving God allow this?), a false impression of Who Jesus really is, no comprehension of His goodness, mercy, forgiveness and compassion, not being comfortable with His holiness (in some cases because His ways are very contrary to our own ways and we don’t necessarily want to be that holy)…and the list goes on.
But then I thought, even if we don’t know about or want or desire the Sacred Heart of Jesus, He doesn’t give up on us. And although He doesn’t push or shove or force or demand, He’s always there, gently nudging, presenting opportunities for our free will to willingly and freely open our hearts to His great love.
I have an idea. We’ll call it a devotional challenge. Let’s pray the Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for a month and journal our thoughts and feelings, and see what happens. I’m pretty sure a genuine desire of this nature would be viewed by Jesus as a willing heart, and there’s no telling where that could lead.
There are many versions and even several novenas. You can Google them for yourself, but I’ll provide one of my favorite versions of the Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus right here in this post to make it easy:
Oh, Lord Jesus Christ, to Your most Sacred Heart I confide this intention (name petition). Only look upon me, then do what Your love inspires. Let Your Sacred Heart decide. I count on You. I trust in You. I throw myself on Your mercy, Lord Jesus. You will not fail me.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You. Sacred Heart of Jesus, I believe in Your love for me. Sacred Heart of Jesus, Your kingdom come. Sacred Heart of Jesus, I have asked You for many favors, but I earnestly implore this one. Take it, place it in Your open Heart.
When the Eternal Father looks upon it, He will see it covered with Your Precious blood. It will be no longer my prayer, but Yours, Jesus. Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in You. Let me not be disappointed. Amen.
P.S. If you’re feeling extra ambitious (and I hope you are), here are a couple of additional questions you might ask yourself:
In what ways have I been indifferent to Jesus’ love today?
In what ways have I believed in and responded to the love of Jesus today?
