Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“They will look upon him whom they have pierced.”

 

Gospel Reading: John 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.

 

Today is the Solemnity of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.  We are called to look upon him whose heart we have pierced.  Jesus went to the cross for our sins.  His heart was pierced for our sins.  When we think of the heart, we think of love.  When someone gives their heart away, they give away their love.  Jesus gave away his heart for our eternal salvation.  He willingly went to the cross to suffer for all the sins that we have committed and will commit.  Both blood and water flowed from his side.  The water of our Baptism and the Blood of the Eucharistic Meal.  His broken heart made the ultimate sacrifice.  True love does not consider the cost of the sacrifice.  Jesus did not hold back, he gave it all.  We too are asked to make the sacrifice.  Only with our own broken and contrite heart can we truly see the beauty of the sacrifice made by Christ.  Christ set the bar as we too are called to live our lives in sacrificial love for all.  Are you willing to make the sacrifice for Christ?  To make the sacrifice for Christ means that we must be willing to make the sacrifice for the least of our brothers and sisters.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord Jesus, Thank you for making the sacrifice on the cross.

It is through your broken and pierced heart that we see the glory of our Baptism and the Eucharist.

Through these sacraments, strengthen my will so I too can make the sacrificial commitment for my brothers and sisters.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon