The Sacred Heart is displayed as a heart on fire. Jesus’ heart is pictured as outside His body, aflame with His burning love. God’s divine love is “a consuming fire” (Heb 12:29).

Many people are afraid of catching on fire with God’s love. They intuitively realize that if they let themselves catch on fire with God’s love, it will mean giving their entire life to Him. They envision themselves like candles set aflame with the love of God, becoming fully consumed to the point of burning down to nothing in His all-consuming fire. This is an incomplete picture of what it means to catch on fire with God’s love.

There are other, more full images in Scripture of what it is like to catch on fire for God. The burning bush which attracted Moses was on fire, yet was not consumed (Ex 3:2-3). The bush did not “burn out,” but instead attracted Moses to itself. If we let the Lord set us on fire with His love, we will radiate the love of God and not burn out (see Hos 11:9; Is 43:2).

In the Old Testament, people died when they approached God too closely (see e.g. 2 Sm 6:6-7). But in the New Testament, He calls us to approach Him intimately (see Heb 12:18-24). Don’t be afraid God will ask too much. Be inflamed in the burning love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and let it consume you.

Rescript:  "In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from June 1, 2023, through July 31, 2023. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio December 14, 2022"

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.