Jun
18
2019
By Anonymous (not verified)
We celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) on the 23rd of this month. When St. Faustina celebrated this feast on June 1, 1937, she wrote in her Diary, "Today, the Corpus Christi procession took place. At the first altar, a flame issued from the Host and pierced my heart, and I heard a voice, 'Here is My resting place.' Ardor burst into flame in my heart. I felt that I am transformed completely into Him" (1140).
Let's reflect on these words from our Lord to St. Faustina: "Here is my resting place." Saint Faustina gave her heart completely to Jesus, and it was a place of repose for Him. Since God took on the form of human flesh, including a human heart, in the Incarnation, as He sees the sins of the world, it wounds His Heart deeply. Saint Faustina's faithful heart was a place where Jesus did not have to wince in pain from being rejected. She made her heart a place of consolation and acceptance for Him. Do we accept Jesus into our hearts, or do we reject Him? Are there places in our hearts where we do not want Him to go? Do we allow Jesus to rest in every part of our heart? Or do we turn to distractions, or fill our hearts with things that wound His Heart?
How can we give Him more space in our hearts so that we are a place of rest and consolation for Him? It is a daily process. Each day we are faced with dozens of small choices that can either numb our hearts so that we don't have to face the pain of opening them up to the light and to Jesus' love, or we can open them in vulnerability and allow the Lord to enter in. Vulnerability, as defined by a popular psychologist today, is defined as, "uncertainty, risk and emotional exposure." Vulnerability in today's world is often said to be a weakness. It can certainly be very scary. To expose your heart to another leaves you open to being hurt. That's why most of us cover over our hearts. But there is no need to protect ourselves from the Lord. He is Love and Mercy itself.
Vulnerability can be a great strength. You cannot love another without vulnerability, or grow, or learn, or share with others without vulnerability. It is in vulnerability, that is, emotional exposure, properly given to one who is trustworthy, that a friendship can flourish. Jesus is the One who is most trustworthy. He is the One with whom we should be most vulnerable. But unfortunately, our wounds and scars from this life and the ways we have been hurt by others often get projected onto our image of God. The Holy Eucharist is precisely our daily reminder that God is not like broken and sinful humanity. He took on our human flesh in order to show us His unconditional love, mercy, and acceptance. He is trustworthy, and when we are vulnerable before Him, He rests in our hearts. This not only brings Him consolation, but it will bring rest and peace to our hearts as well.
He has given Himself to us in the Most Holy Eucharist so that we might have a lasting reminder of His love and presence among us. His Body and Blood is food for the journey. We honor and adore this Blessed Sacrament on this special feast. Let's honor and adore Him in our hearts every day by trying to make more and more room for Him in our hearts.
Let's reflect on these words from our Lord to St. Faustina: "Here is my resting place." Saint Faustina gave her heart completely to Jesus, and it was a place of repose for Him. Since God took on the form of human flesh, including a human heart, in the Incarnation, as He sees the sins of the world, it wounds His Heart deeply. Saint Faustina's faithful heart was a place where Jesus did not have to wince in pain from being rejected. She made her heart a place of consolation and acceptance for Him. Do we accept Jesus into our hearts, or do we reject Him? Are there places in our hearts where we do not want Him to go? Do we allow Jesus to rest in every part of our heart? Or do we turn to distractions, or fill our hearts with things that wound His Heart?
How can we give Him more space in our hearts so that we are a place of rest and consolation for Him? It is a daily process. Each day we are faced with dozens of small choices that can either numb our hearts so that we don't have to face the pain of opening them up to the light and to Jesus' love, or we can open them in vulnerability and allow the Lord to enter in. Vulnerability, as defined by a popular psychologist today, is defined as, "uncertainty, risk and emotional exposure." Vulnerability in today's world is often said to be a weakness. It can certainly be very scary. To expose your heart to another leaves you open to being hurt. That's why most of us cover over our hearts. But there is no need to protect ourselves from the Lord. He is Love and Mercy itself.
Vulnerability can be a great strength. You cannot love another without vulnerability, or grow, or learn, or share with others without vulnerability. It is in vulnerability, that is, emotional exposure, properly given to one who is trustworthy, that a friendship can flourish. Jesus is the One who is most trustworthy. He is the One with whom we should be most vulnerable. But unfortunately, our wounds and scars from this life and the ways we have been hurt by others often get projected onto our image of God. The Holy Eucharist is precisely our daily reminder that God is not like broken and sinful humanity. He took on our human flesh in order to show us His unconditional love, mercy, and acceptance. He is trustworthy, and when we are vulnerable before Him, He rests in our hearts. This not only brings Him consolation, but it will bring rest and peace to our hearts as well.
He has given Himself to us in the Most Holy Eucharist so that we might have a lasting reminder of His love and presence among us. His Body and Blood is food for the journey. We honor and adore this Blessed Sacrament on this special feast. Let's honor and adore Him in our hearts every day by trying to make more and more room for Him in our hearts.
DDBURG