https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042324.cfm
Sharing My Heart with Jesus
Who are your best friends? We share ideas with acquaintances, but our best friends are people who gently hold our hearts. Jesus couldn’t get through to people who were only comfortable sharing ideas. You can hear the frustration in the people in today’s gospel who said to Jesus, “Tell us plainly if you are the Messiah.” He said that he already told them, but they would not listen.
Jesus wants to hold our hearts and bear everything that happens to us. Blessed Antonio Rosmini wrote, “God has given all that he is; do we want to give him only a part of ourselves? Be generous with the Lord, and do not be afraid of giving him too much.” (Letters EC 4:699)
Jesus taught people plainly; he worked miracles, but none of those touched anyone’s heart because faith and trust are in the heart, not the head. We know that a relationship with someone changes when we move from sharing ideas and telling them something very personal about ourselves. We trust our friends to carry not only what we tell them but also us. Jesus is the same.
Our Lord wants us to be his sheep – that is, he wants us to trust Him with everything we hold dear in our hearts. Pope John Paul knew that Jesus did everything possible, even die on the cross in our place. It will make no difference for us unless we “open wide the door of your hearts to Christ. Give Jesus a chance. Give His mercy a chance. Give His Peace a chance.”
It’s beautiful when we get to know the Good Shepherd.
Gospel Challenge:
“How comforting it is to have no life of one’s own, but to live the life of Jesus whose pure light and perfect joy will never know corruption! (Blessed Antonio Rosmini, Letters 2:415).
What will we surrender to Jesus today?
Fr. Rick Pilger, IC
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