embrace his heart
“Who among you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wasteland and follow the lost one until he finds it?” —Luke 15:4
Jesus thinks of salvation in terms of individual people. His heart literally bleeds for lost, hurting people in need of a Savior. This reveals the love within the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He cannot hold Himself back from saving us. He greatly desires to save us (see 1 Tm 2:4). He must pursue us (see Lk 15:4), just like a parent who pursues his or her little child to rescue them from danger.
Jesus gives us His gentle, humble heart (Mt 11:29). In some images of the Sacred Heart, Jesus is holding His heart outside His body, offering it to us. He allowed His Sacred Heart to be pierced by a lance for us (Jn 19:34ff).
Jesus exposes His heart to us, all the while knowing we might reject or ignore His love. But on the chance that we might return His love, Jesus takes this risk. So “the love of God has been poured out in our hearts” from His Sacred Heart (Rm 5:5). What wondrous love is this!
Give Jesus what He thirsts for (Jn 19:28) — your heart of love for Him.
Prayer: “Sacred Heart of Jesus, we Thee implore, make us love Thee more and more.”
Promise: “This hope will not leave us disappointed, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us.” —Rm 5:5
Praise: “Take My yoke upon your shoulders and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble of heart. Your souls will find rest” (Mt 11:29). Lord Jesus, Your Sacred Heart is my sanctuary.
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
(For a related teaching on Sacred Heart, listen to, download or order our CD 19-1 or DVD 19 on our website.)
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