Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Reading of the Word of God

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

This is the Gospel of the poor,
liberation for the imprisoned,
sight for the blind,
freedom for the oppressed.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

John 19,31-37

It was the Day of Preparation, and to avoid the bodies' remaining on the cross during the Sabbath -- since that Sabbath was a day of special solemnity -- the Jews asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken away. Consequently the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with him and then of the other. When they came to Jesus, they saw he was already dead, and so instead of breaking his legs one of the soldiers pierced his side with a lance; and immediately there came out blood and water. This is the evidence of one who saw it -- true evidence, and he knows that what he says is true -- and he gives it so that you may believe as well. Because all this happened to fulfil the words of scripture: Not one bone of his will be broken; and again, in another place scripture says: They will look to the one whom they have pierced.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

The Son of Man came to serve,
whoever wants to be great
should become servant of all.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Today the Church celebrates the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. John writes: "One of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out." This liturgical memorial is an invitation to us all to turn our attention to the mystery of that heart that emptied itself for our salvation. It is a heart of flesh, which was moved, which wept, which became tender, which became passionate, never for itself but only for others. He made no privileges for anyone, except for the poorest, the smallest, the weakest, the sinners. It is not a heart like ours, which is often stony, insensitive even in the face of so much love. It is from the compassion and emotion of that heart that Jesus' public life began. Matthew writes (9:36) that Jesus, going through the towns and villages of Galilee, was moved by the crowds that were flocking to him because they were weary and exhausted like sheep without a shepherd. And he set about rounding them up and caring for them. With Jesus had finally come the good shepherd of whom the prophet Ezekiel spoke (34;11-12): "I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. As shepherds seek out their flocks when they are among their scattered sheep, so I will seek out my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered." The Gospel of John invites us to keep our eyes fixed on the Crucifix, on that heart who let itself be pierced for us, to give back men and women the strength to love.