There are many songs, love songs in particular, that always talk about the “heart.” From “don’t go breaking my heart,” to “listen to your heart,” it is easy to take for granted what the heart is. Naturally, there is the physical heart anatomy located between your lungs and chest that pumps blood throughout the body. Another definition of the heart is the place where feelings and emotions derive from. However, for us Christians, the heart means so much more! In a biblical sense, the heart is the center of the human person. Indeed, what lies within the heart is affections, emotions, feelings, and desires but also our moral conscience, intellectual and spiritual activity where we can meditate, contemplate, reflect, and ponder. Within the heart, we make decisions, discern, and commit to whatever it is the will sets its goal upon. Moreover, we know that due to Original Sin, within the heart comes evil thoughts, brokenness, sinful notions, and so forth.
This past Friday, June 24th, we celebrated one of my favorite solemnities: The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Sacred Heart of Jesus displays that God is not some divine Person distant from us, but eliminates that distance, loving us from within our own nature. The Word Incarnate – Jesus Christ – takes on our human heart and He loves with a perfect human heart. By Baptism, the Indwelling Trinity makes its home within our hearts. Although our hearts our wounded, broken, and in dire need of being renewed, The Sacred Heart of Jesus purifies and perfects our hearts, consoling it by uniting our weak human love to divine love. The more we unite ourselves to the Sacred Heart, the more we become who He has made us to become – our true selves as beloved sons and daughters. May the Sacred Heart of Jesus, truly present in the Holy Eucharist, be the fountain of living water for all whose hearts are open to receive this Love. As our hearts beat one with the Sacred Heart, we too will be caught up together in eternal life, our true home.
I also want to take a moment and say farewell and thank you, Resurrection Parish, for a blessed Pastoral Year. June 26th marks the “official” end to my pastoral year. You all have been a blessing to me, and you have loved me well. Jesus has taught me a lot this past year, and my excitement of becoming a priest has increased. I will always remember you and keep you in my prayers as I return to St. Vincent Seminary to complete my theological studies. Please pray for me.
- In His Divine Heart, JohnBest wishes to Seminarian John Ferguson from everyone at Resurrection Parish. We are so grateful that you could spend your Pastoral Year here with us. Thank you for your service to our parish. You have been a blessing to our community and a shining example of what a life devoted to Christ looks like. May you continue to bless all those whom you minister to over the coming years. We wish you success, peace, and perseverance as you finish your studies. You will forever be in our thoughts and prayers.