The image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus has adorned most if not all Catholic Filipino homes. When Nidz and I tied the knot one of the wedding gifts we received was a statue of the Sacred Heart of Our Lord which I brought to the UK when I migrated here six years ago. It is now hung foyer welcoming anyone who enters and bids adieu (and blesses) those who would leave.
At the start of the day, as I make my way to the kitchen (which is next to the stairs), I bow down before it, expressing my thanks to the Lord for another day and offering myself for His glory and the good of others. As I switch the lights off at night, I bow down once again before that image thanking God for guiding me throughout the day and asking to send His angels to watch over us as we sleep.
When we were kids, there’s this image of the Sacred Heart in our living room. One evening, as we were all in the living room, we heard a noise and a cry – Nicola (a younger sister) was tumbling down from the stairs. She was 1 or 2 years old then. My dad was furious to find out that we didn’t look after her and punished me and my other brother Gio (being the older siblings) by kneeling in front of the image for God knows how long!
The Lord’s heart has been a symbol of His love for us. Yet it also invites us to make God the center or core (from the Latin cor = heart) of our lives.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, may You be the center of our lives, of our homes, of our country, of our Church, and of our world. Amen.
When thinking of the Sacred Heart (whose feast will be celebrated this 19th June), I couldn’t fail to recall St Augustine who once said (to the Lord) “Our heart is restless until it rests on you”.
This saying brought me to another ‘dimension’ when I became a father. During Chiara’s first few days and weeks she was the ‘cuddly’ type of baby. You couldn’t put her on the crib for long. I could find myself ‘locked up’ carrying her while she sleeps. But I’m happy that she is at peace in either her Mom’s or Dad’s arms.
As a father I find that a blessing to be entrusted with a child. It is challenging. You have to be on your toes 24/7. It is a restless endeavour. Yet looking at how this beautiful baby entrusts herself to her parents and, as a result, be at peace I realized how much I needed God, how much I should seek Him so I too could find that rest.
The 21st of June will be my first Fathers’ Day. Looking back in the previous 9 months, I have stumbled on many occasions and sometimes felt depressed for not being a good father. Yet each day, as I bow before the Sacred Heart of Jesus, my scared and scarred heart is assured of His love, His presence, His grace. May He also touch the hearts of all dads this Fathers’ Day and always.
Happy Fathers’ Day, compadres!
Belated 20th foundation anniversary to the Apostleship of Prayer - Youth of the St Joseph de Gagalangin Parish on the 2nd of June. May the Sacred Heart of Jesus continue to animate you in your service to God's people.
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