John’s Truth: The Sacred Heart

Meditation

I must admit, I can not begin to understand the benefits.

Still, it does fascinate me.

To Meditate: a verb meaning to think deeply or carefully about something. To  contemplate…ponder…muse…reflect…deliberate…ruminate…chew…mull over…brood…cogitate.

To  aid meditation time a person might use extended period of silence or maybe chanting to clear their thoughts. Someone might light a candle to focus their mind. While others read a specific passage repeatedly, until an element of the scripture emerges. Someone might say: “Amazing how I never noticed that before…”

An extension of this then, can be journaling and praying to notice where the Spirit of God might be leading them on any given day.

Rabbula Gospels, Earliest Illuminated Manuscript Crucifixion, 586 A.D. 13.4 x 10.6 inches. Florence, Biblioteca Mediceo Laurenziana, Image Source

As I studied the gospel of John this week, looking for his unique voice, I began to meditate on all of Jesus’ truth statements:

 

I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep…whoever enters through me will be saved.  John 10: 7-9

I tell you the truth…I am the bread of life. John 10:35

“My kingdom is not of this world…my kingdom is from another place…For this reason I was born, and for this reason I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” to which Pilate replied: “What is truth?” John 18: 36-38

Seems very dramatic that John leaves this question hanging…

What follows is all the jeering of the crowd and beatings of the soldiers and unbearable burden of the pain and suffering of the cross.

Then John records the moments surrounding Jesus death:

Sacred Heart of Jesus, Catholic Holy Prayer Card, circa 1880, Auguste Martin Collection, University of Dayton Libraries

“But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.”        

“The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony in true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe.” John 19:33-35

 

So what emerged for me this week was a sudden awakening to the imagery of the “Sacred Heart” A lifetime of hearing it associated with names of schools and hospitals, I had never realized it was a direct reference to the moment when Jesus’ heart was pierced and brought a sudden flow of blood and water.

Seeing all the imagery, I began to wonder at the benefits of meditating on the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

To isolate my mind, forsaking all others, into a single channel of adoration for the  Sacred Heart of Christ that was pierced and flowed with blood and water. To begin to imagine the emotional pain he must have suffered. When I allow myself to think on Jesus’ sacred heart  for even a brief period, I begin to vibrate the same frequency  of love and compassion-first for our Lord Jesus Christ- then for those in the world around me.

I can hope for the best in others..

Sacred Heart Holy Card

I can learn patience,

seek holiness,

follow Jesus’ footsteps.

Vitral em Igreja Santa Efigenia

Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true…I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life…” Revelations 22: 5

God’s peace be with you.

Happy Sunday:)