The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus tomorrow and the Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary on Saturday, brings to mind a prayer that my grandparents would usually utter: Sweet Heart of Jesus, be my love. Sweet Heart of Mary, be my salvation. Very short prayer, but full of meaning, depth, and inspiration.
Msgr Mario Enriquez, in his homily during the feast of the Sacred Heart in Gagalangin many years ago, said that we are not devoted to the physical heart of our Lord, but to the love which Jesus' heart symbolizes. Indeed, if we honor and venerate His physical heart only, our devotion will miss the whole point why that physical heart was pierced by a lance on the first Good Friday - out of love for us.
It was said that the first followers of Jesus were known not because of their religious practices or customs, but by their love for each other. Lest we forget, this love is rooted in and animated by Jesus. A kind of love that is selfless. It has been 2,000 years or so and that small community has grown enormously across the world. Are our communities still known for the love which our ancestors in faith have had for each other? Is charity still found at our homes? Are we still motivated by love to do good? Yes or (more importantly) no, let's daily ask our Lord: Sweet Heart of Jesus, be my love.
Because of that selfless love that Jesus has, we have all been saved. And yet, each day of our lives here on earth is a challenge to be saved. Because of our fallen nature, we sometimes forget how we have been loved and so we commit mistakes. We become ungrateful for what Jesus has done for us.
I remember Bro Jun Ignao, a former colleague in the Basic Christian Community in Barangay Poblacion (Kawit, Cavite), who once told us that if God would destroy the whole world, everyone would perish except Mary. Having been conceived without any stain of sin, Mary is truly God's favored daughter. Her heart has always been united with the heart of her son. Therefore, if we wish to rise up from our sins and be counted among those saved at the end of time, if we wish to gain eternal life, if we desire to be with God forever in heaven, let us always call on our mother: Sweet Heart of Mary, be my salvation.
Let me be clear though that salvation doesn't come from Mary per se. Salvation only comes from Jesus, our Savior. By way of analogy, if the moon merely reflects the light that comes from the sun, so is Mary imparting salvation that comes from Jesus.
United with the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, may our journey in life be filled with love so that we and our other fellow pilgrims can find salvation at our destination. As it will soon be Father's Day, please pray for us fathers that we may always put on the love of Jesus so we can truly lead our families to salvation.
Sweet Heart of Jesus, be my love. Sweet Heart of Mary, be my salvation.
Maligayang pista po!
