Sacred Heart of Jesus

I could not fail to write something on the Feast of the Sacred Heart!

However, brief meditation seems to be in order. No book-writing today.
(PS - Britt, thanks for your post! Those are two books I do mean to read.)

John 13:23-26
"One of his disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at Jesus' side. So Simon Peter nodded to him to find out whom he meant. He leaned back against Jesus' chest and said to him, "Master, who is it?" Jesus answered..."

Contextually, this is not about a great devotion to the Sacred Heart. This is the beginning of the revelation of the Passion that Christ will endure. Judas is about to betray Christ, and John in his Gospel is going to recount the beautiful prayer Jesus offers to his Father on behalf of those he loves.

Yet, to be John at this moment. To be so close, so intimate with this man who is all things to all people, who is man and God, the perfect man and more than man and yet truly man... Jesus himself. To lie back against his chest, to hear his Heart beat. To feel his Heart beat, for you know if you've been so close to someone's chest you certainly can feel the beating.

Before the great challenges of life come our way, before giant waves crash and thunder rolls in and the earth itself shakes... we need to allow that gentle rhythm to sink into us, to permeate us so that peace is what we find our strength in, and not just any peace, but the peace of the Sacred Heart.

John is the one who manages to follow Jesus all the way to the Cross, and to stand before his Lord as he dies, and to accept his Mother from him. John somehow had this grace to be faithful to this Lord whom he loved, and it seems to me that if we yearn to do the same and to be faithful in our lives to Jesus, we too must find ways to lean against his chest and listen to his Heart.

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque has a beautiful noven to the Sacred Heart which St. Padre Pio prayed everyday for the intentions of those who asked him. http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/heart/sh_novena.htm
"Sacred Heart of jesus, I place all my trust in you."