Bloody Heaven

Holy Family, Columbus. If you look really closely you can see the Sacred Heart statue in the high altar.

    (Note: This post is the post for this weekend. I will be very busy on Sunday itself, and have a silent retreat soon afterwards. If I do not respond to your messages for a little while, that is why!)
 
    With such love does the Sacred Heart of Jesus love us!

    Look upon this heart, beating quickly as though under stress, yet moving with a rhythmic calm.

    The blood of this heart is a bright, vibrant red. It is not the dark red of deoxygenation, but the bright red of blood filled with life. It is the source of its own, powerful life.

    See how blood flows forth from the wound in the side of the Sacred Heart. With every beat of the muscle, blood gushes forth in copious, painful amounts- and not only blood, but streams of water pour from the wound, not diluting the blood, but instead making it glisten with Divine Mercy.

    Notice the cross of jagged and brutish wood, standing tall atop the heart. It is worn both as a crown, and as a burden. Yet the heart seems, somehow, to hold the cross close to itself, never releasing its grip on its own torture.

    Look! Flames have burst from the top of the heart, engulfing the cross. However though the flames lick the open pores of the wood, the cross is not consumed. Rather, the flames and the cross seem to have become one in an artistic masterpiece of love: indeed, in burning passion.

    Finally, wrapped tightly around the Sacred Heart is a crown of dry thorns, swords thin enough to swiftly pierce the flesh of its bearer. The Heart pulsates into the thorns with pain in every movement, but there is no hesitation in it's beats. With joy does the Heart receive the crown given to Him, and with joy will it bleed life in it's sufferings until the end of time!

    At the soup kitchen and convent of religious sisters that the Propaedeutic seminarians and I have been serving at during these past weeks, the Sacred Heart of Jesus seems to have been following us around. In every building, tent, chapel and church the Sacred Heart has been there to greet us and lead us. It is fitting that the Heart that loved so many yet was loved by so few should teach us to love the homeless and destitute who are often unloved and forgotten themselves. We and the Sisters have been incredibly blessed to be a source of true love for many of these people, and we pray that we can bring this love- and a sandwich- to many more. This is how the Sacred Heart of Jesus will reign in the world: by union with the hearts of those He came to save.

    Chaste Heart of Saint Joseph; Protect us that we may love chastely and purely.

    Immaculate Heart of Mary; Pray for us that we may receive the Heart of your Son with perfect humility and meekness, that we may be perfect and immaculate witnesses of His love.

    Most Sacred Heart of Jesus; Have Mercy On Us!

    Amen.