His Love
Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Good morning young people of St. John Vianney school.
Today is a special day, because it is not only 1st Friday, but it is actually the Feast of the Sacred heart of Jesus. We see our statue here; Jesus is showing us his Sacred Heart, it is a sign that he loves you. The heart is a symbol of love; that is why we give hearts to others on St. Valentine’s day, to show that we love someone. But love is not just cute, paper hearts or nice words, love is really caring about someone, wanting to help them, being kind to them.
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We’ve met people who sometimes say nice things, but they are not sincere, they don’t really want to help us, or care about us. But this is not the love that Jesus has for us. He is willing to do anything to help us.
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In the gospel he compares himself to a shepherd who is guarding his sheep. If one sheep wanders away, and get’s lost or get’s into trouble, this Good Shepherd will go off and do anything to find that little lost sheep. And when he finds it, he doesn’t scold it or yell at it, but he picks it up and carries him home, so happy.
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Our Lord is telling us that this is the love he has for each of us. That he wants to help us, and if we do something bad, if we are sorry, he wants to forgive us and help us to change. Jesus wants, not to carry us back to the pasture, he wants to carry us up to heaven; not to be with other sheep, but to be with the angels.
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No one in the whole world has ever shown as much love for us as Jesus Christ. We look at the cross, and we see how much he did for you; he did not just say, ‘I love you,’ he gave his life for you. And when that soldier took his lance, and speared the heart of Jesus, it was not just blood that flowed out, it was love.
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He gives his love for you, all he wants is your love back. This summer will be a beautiful time for all of you; time to play, relax, read some books, take a walk. But also a time to show love to others: in your family, at picnics, on a hike, in sports – all the time. And loving Jesus, especially never forgetting our prayers.
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And our dear 8th grade class. Your last school Mass with us, but as you go forth, not only this summer, but on to high school, may the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus be with you wherever you go.
