In my years as a priest, I have been so blessed to have so many tell me of how they have been found by the Good Shepherd and how they have come to know Him. It’s impressive, that while each story is so personal and particular, these testimonies share something in common that is true and that I have found my own personal experience confirms.
Particularly, many have told me that they weren’t really looking for Christ but at a moment of suffering or hurt, He came to them! Stripped of their self-sufficiency, they could finally receive Him who had been walking at their side: again, their stories echo my experience.
I grew up in a devout Catholic family and throughout elementary and high school, Jesus was my close companion, and trusted guide. Yet in college I got lost, being misled by the so many blind guides and also some downright “wolves in sheep’s clothing” … I am not proud of the confusion of my youth, but afterwards I could perceive strongly how He was still at my side, protecting, waiting, and letting me learn.
In my case, He let me venture into a search through the religions of the world then to understand deeply how Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life at the heart of it all in our world, in our time. When I was vulnerable and hurting, when I came to see my littleness in a deceitful world, I was ready to hear Him in my heart: “Jim, I love you. Take my hand”: a clear inner voice, a voice I had known quite well in my childhood, in prayer, in the love of my family, as I had been an altar boy.
I have found, too, then, as we give the Lord the primary place in our lives that indeed belongs to Him alone, we continue to have so many ways we meet Him, sometimes dramatic yet mostly quiet and everyday… in prayer, in family, in friendship, in service, in beauty, and in suffering.
All to draw our hearts deeper and deeper into His Sacred Heart.
As we celebrate the great Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, let’s go deeper in understanding to embrace and to unite to the Infinite Heart of the God who is Love, who means to save and transform.
Is there injustice, cruelty, deceit, and evil in this world? Yes. Yet we know a greater Love. We embrace and we want to give ourselves to be part of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He is already the Victor.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.
