SACRED HEART OF JESUS AND WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE SANCTIFICATION OF PRIESTS
On this day of celebration, we honour the Sacred Heart of Jesus. At the same time, this World Day of Prayer invites all to pray for the sanctification of priests. One website offers an invitation to participate in a world-wide Rosary Relay.
It is a lovely reminder that, when we head to bed, others are beginning their day. Somewhere, somehow, someone is always praying. Our prayer is always united with the prayer of others. Two long-standing forms of prayer are noted today: the Rosary, and prayerful pondering of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Traditional images of the Sacred Heart usually feature a blood-red open heart. A reminder that his love for us is alive. It is sincere – his heart is open – visible to those who gaze upon his image. It is also noteworthy to ponder the seriousness of his visage and the ever-present circlet of thorns. Various artists have chosen to depict hands raised in blessing, hands holding the heart in offering, or hands held in a gesture of openness.
It is a love to be deeply considered. It is a pain-filled love. It offers a visual reminder that Jesus loves us with a compassionate love that endures beyond any pain and suffering. It invites us to place before him the times when we could not love. We name the times we were worn out: frustrated, hurt, exhausted, over-burdened, afraid or simply too tired to offer our best selves.
To be made wiser and stronger. To love, even when there is deep and lasting pain in our hearts. To love, even when the thorns are pressing tightly, and it hurts to even breathe. This brings us to the role of those who have been called to serve as priests. Those who have been called to help us become our best selves. We need dedicated people who welcome us with open hands and hearts, reminding us of who we are, of who we are called to be, and to whom we belong.
We need people who have deeply received the enduring love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, knowing that here on earth, it is nurtured in a human family and in a human community. Because our human love is always offered and received imperfectly, it comes with thorns. We need people who truly understand. They invite us to rise above, to move beyond, and to courageously continue co-creating the world that God had in mind at the dawn of creation.
We might stop and pay tribute to the wise, kind, gentle and good-hearted priests who have blessed our lives. They are those who have continued their own journey toward wholeness and holiness, inviting us to do the same. They stand with, and not above. They share the human journey, reminding us that we are all living a great mystery: we are walking home to God, and walking with God all along the way.
They strive to be Christ-like. Gospel stories highlight a Jesus who welcomed everyone, from every occupation and social class. He welcomed young children, any who knew that they needed him, and those who did not acknowledge their need for his life-giving and enduring love. He faced more than his fair share of rejection.
Matthew 8 points out that Jesus did not have a place to call “home” – nowhere to lay his head. Mark 3 notes that his family thought he was out of his mind. Luke 5 underscores a common theme that might be summarized by the complaint “Who does he think he is?” John 7 makes it clear that Jesus knew he was a “wanted man” and that people were plotting against him.
It is difficult to be open-hearted when we feel unwelcome and misjudged, or we are caught in unfair and unjust circumstances. Wise guides help us navigate these heart-wrenching times.
United in Spirit, we all strive to be more Christ-like.
Brenda Merk Hildebrand has a deep passion for lifelong learning, education, and spiritual and palliative care. She appreciates the opportunities that have come her way to share life’s transforming journey with others: one-with-one, through intentional group settings, in animating workshops and retreats, and by way of her writing. Brenda is a long-time contributor to Living with Christ.
