Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, June 15,2007

Scripture: Ezekiel 34:11-16. Psalm 23. Romans 5:5-11. Luke 15:3-7.Lectionary 172 Jesus describes his love for us as that of a shepherd for his sheep. On this Solemnity of the Sacred Heart the readings focus on the theme of shepherd. We are to see within this imaging the love that comes from the heart of Our Lord. Almost all of the readings help us to do this and the selection from Romans puts the Shepherd theme within the great love that God has for us through Jesus' heart. "God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us." Upon reading these passages we are consoled that Jesus is our Shepherd who loves us with a total love no matter where we are personally. He searches us out even though we may be unware that he is doing this. The selections are among the best for the shepherd theme beginning with the prophet Ezekiel who has influenced the writers of the New Testament. The Psalmist gives us one of the favorites with the "Lord is my shepherd there is nothing I shall want" (Psalm 23). While St. Luke continues with Jesus himself speaking as a Shepherd who cares for his sheep with ever vigilant concern for each sheep. The love of Jesus pours through and we ourselves take great confidence in these words..." there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who have no need of repentance." With that sentence everyone is included! No problem! Jesus takes our brokeness and our fragility and heals our wounds. He keeps looking for us as our shepherd who never tires with his loving concern. Our own hearts are moved when we realize this and we respond with our love. We can profit on this Solemnity of the Sacred Heart by its teaching on how to love and how to be reconciled with those whom we have not loved especially those whom we have hurt. "We even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. " Amen.