In this week between the Solemnities of Corpus Christi and the Most Sacred Heart, every Catholic ought to be especially aware of his or her participation in the work of salvation and, in communion with Jesus Christ and the whole Church, strive to offer oneself to the Father in reparation for sin. She is the type and model of the Church’s participation in the work of salvation, for she stands beneath the Cross of her Son and unites her Immaculate Heart to His Sacred Heart. The Blessed Virgin Mary already shows us how to do this. Paul, we ought to be able to say: “In my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of His Body, which is the Church” (Col 1:24). Nevertheless, as members of His Body, we recognize that each of us is called to make atonement for sin so that the whole Christ-Head and members-are united in the work of salvation. Certainly, upon the Cross, Christ the Head has offered the one Sacrifice that redeems humanity. The Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart, then, is a fitting day for the whole Church to offer an Act of Reparation to the Sacred Heart for the many sins committed against the love of God. No matter how many times humanity has offended and rejected God, He has always been ready to meet us with mercy and forgiveness. Instead, God willed that blood and water-symbols of the Eucharist and Baptism-should flow from Christ’s wounded Heart to bring healing and conversion to sinful humanity. With that final act of man’s rejection of the Father’s love, God could have poured out judgment upon the centurion and upon the whole world for the death of His Son. Not only did Jesus willingly lay down His life for our salvation, but also He allowed His very heart to be pierced by a lance. Without the Savior loving both us and the Father to the end, we would not be redeemed. On the one hand, it is a feast day that reminds us of God’s great love for His people at the same time, it is a feast that acknowledges humanity’s failure to love God fully in return. This Friday, June 23 rd, is the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.
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