Solemnity of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out.

The blood and water that pours out of the side of Jesus reminds us of the love and mercy God constantly offers us. It is out of love for us that Christ sacrifices himself on the cross and it is out of mercy that he accepts the waters of baptism from John. When the lance pierces his side, these symbols of his love and mercy flow out into the world. They are also made manifest when the Church celebrates them in the sacraments of baptism and the Eucharist. The symbolic act of the piercing of the side reminds us that if we truly live Christ-like lives, then love and mercy will flow from our legacy just as it did after Jesus's death.

Do we appreciate the sacrifice God made for us on the cross? Do the love and mercy of God flow from our lives not only when things are going well, but also when we are being persecuted or suffering trials? What will our spiritual legacy be?

O Lord, let your blood of love and water of mercy flow from our hearts.

Amen.