The Pursuing Love of the Sacred Heart
The image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is one of the most tender and powerful depictions of divine love in the Christian faith. It is a heart ablaze, pierced and crowned with thorns, a heart that beats not with judgment but with love so persistent, so consuming, that it breaks through all human logic and expectation.
Not once had we cleaned ourselves up. Not once had we finally “gotten it together.” But while we were still broken, wandering, and even resisting Him.
Our perfection does not move the Sacred Heart; it is moved by compassion.
Today’s readings beautifully unveil the depth of that Sacred Heart.
In the Second Reading from Romans, St. Paul addresses something that most of us struggle to fully grasp: the sheer undeservedness of God’s love. He reminds us that “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Not once had we cleaned ourselves up. Not once had we finally “gotten it together.” But while we were still broken, wandering, and even resisting Him.
Our perfection does not move the Sacred Heart; it is moved by compassion. This is not a love we earn. It is a love poured out—lavishly, abundantly—into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. It is the kind of love that dares to die for the ungodly. That seeks not to punish but to reconcile. That justifies us not by our merit but by His mercy.
And then we turn to Luke’s Gospel, where Jesus, knowing the hearts of the Pharisees and scribes, tells the parable of the lost sheep. Here again, the Sacred Heart of Jesus is revealed—a heart that leaves the ninety-nine to go after the one. Not out of frustration or obligation but “with great joy.”
This image is radical. In a world where we often feel disposable, replaceable, or unworthy, Jesus tells us otherwise: You are the one He will leave the ninety-nine for. You are the one He longs to carry home on His shoulders. Not shamed, not scolded, but rejoiced over.
It’s no accident that these readings are paired on the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Together, they echo the heart of the Gospel:
A heart that suffers for love.
A heart that seeks the lost.
A heart that rejoices in reconciliation.
And so, today, we’re invited not just to look at an image of the Sacred Heart, but to enter into it. To allow ourselves to be pursued, found, and loved by the One who gave everything to bring us home.
If you feel lost, helpless, or unsure of where you stand with God, take heart. His love for you is not based on your ability to return to Him but on His relentless desire to come to you.
“Rejoice with me,” He says, “because I have found my lost sheep.”
And in that moment, heaven rejoices—not because you’ve performed, but because Love Himself has found you.