Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

A blessed Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus to you!  I have had a wonderful, growing relationship with the Sacred Heart over the years for a multitude of reasons.  

Most images of the Sacred Heart of Jesus have the heart floating above his chest or revealed behind a cloak that he has pulled aside.  What makes the Batoni piece unique is that it has Jesus holding the heart.  He gets physical with it and handles it.  It beats and burns and bleeds while radiating light.  His other hand is outstretched and gently open, both gesturing to the sacred heart and pushing it out toward the viewer.  All the while Jesus’ eyes are softly looking out with an unblinking, unbreaking gaze.  The open hand and the eyes work together as if to say, “C’mon now, are you ready for a change?  Just hand that heart of yours over to me and we’ll make a trade.  Let me be generous with you so that you can learn to be generous with the world in the way I desire.” 

Perhaps on this sacred day we all might make a moment or two to gaze upon Batoni’s painting of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  As we do, can we be more kind with our heart as we invite Jesus to perform a bit of an opening-heart surgery on us?  If we can allow this to happen, by grace, we can also handle the hearts of all those we encounter throughout our day with the same care and reverence and dignity that now lingers within us.