While we were still sinners Christ died for us!

 

Scripture readings for this reflection can be found at Solemnity of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus | USCCB

Today we celebrate the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which is usually commemorated on the Friday after the Second Sunday after Pentecost.

This beautiful devotion shows us the love that Christ has for all of us. In one of his writings, St. Bonaventure wrote, “…consider how great and worthy is he who hangs on the cross for you. His death brings the dead to life…” and “It was a divine decree that permitted one of the soldiers to open his sacred side with a lance. This was done so that the Church might be formed from the side of Christas he slept the sleep of death on the Cross.” Christ willingly went to the cross to die for our salvation.

In our gospel for today we hear Christ describe the Good Shepherd. Christ is that Good Shepherd looking far and wide for those who are away from God through sin. Once the sinner has returned to the loving embrace of Christ in His Church, our Lord is overjoyed, like the Good Shepherd that is described in the gospel.

As we pray today to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, let us reflect on the words of St. Paul in today’s second reading to the Romans, “The love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” God’s love for us is infinite, and He wants us to always to turn away from sin and to always turn towards Him out of love and devotion. Further, as we continue our devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, let us pray for those in our family that may be away from the Church and any devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ. It will be through our prayers that our family and friends will come back into relationship with Jesus and find that peace that can only come from being in relationship with the Lord.

Finally, as we pray to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, let us remember what St. Teresa of Calcutta is quoted as saying: “Do not let the past disturb you. Leave everything in the Sacred Heart of Jesus and begin again with joy.” 

 

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory to Him forever! Warmest greetings to our fathers, godfathers, grandfathers, and spiritual fathers on Father’s Day.

Today we have a recurring guest blogger:  Fr. Arthur F. Rojas, pastor of PRESENTATION OF THE B.V.M CHURCH, PORT EWEN AND SACRED HEART CHURCH, ESOPUS. For more information on this parish, check out their website at Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary & Sacred Heart Churches - Port Ewen - Esopus, NY (presentationsacredheart.org) 

Submission to the blog of Dcn. Thomas Tortorella for Sunday of the Most Holy Trinity 2025 by Fr. Arthur F. Rojas and with permission to publish on the blog

© All Rights Reserved personally by Rev. Fr. Arthur F. Rojas, June 10, 2025    

At times in our country, the local authorities have been referred to as the “town” or “city fathers” and the Framers of the United States Constitution as the “Founding Fathers” of our nation.  Yet most of our state legislators recently have served a Vampire State instead of our once-Empire State by passing the Medical Aid in Dying Bill over to Hon. Kathy Hochul, our governor, for her signature into law.  How many of our elderly, disabled, poor, lonely, or frail fathers (and mothers) have the majorities at Albany placed on the altars of “individual autonomy,” “choice,” and “death with dignity” as Canada and western Europe have shown that the “right” to die becomes inevitably the “duty” to die?  I am reminded of the end of the science-fiction movie Soylent Green as the protagonist played by Charlton Heston announces the terrible secret on his way arguably to euthanasia, “Soylent Green is people!”

Let us extol anew the prayerful fortitude and talent of St. Athanasius, St. Hilary of Poitiers, and other Catholic heroes in the first several centuries of the Church as they upheld the Nicene Creed and our profession of faith in the mystery of one God in three Divine Persons against powerful forces wanting to feed humanity lies about God instead of His Revelation.  Truly the prelates Ss. Athanasius and Hilary have been called fathers…an Eastern and a Western Father of the Church among others so honored with the title.    So may we committed Catholics and other New Yorkers of good will today attest to the intrinsic worth of human life from the womb to the tomb, in light of the recent travesty at Albany, and treat our elderly and our disabled not as burdens to our comfortable way of life or as mere liabilities to corporate bottom lines but as opportunities to be truly human, truly loving to each other as God expects of us.

Firstly, let us pray for the conversion of Governor Hochul, that she may veto the bill instead of becoming complicit in this sordid affair.  The votes are arguably in both chambers to sustain that move.  Then, call her office at 518/474-8390 to convey your insistence – firmly but respectfully – that she decide with a view to history and the hereafter and not just the elections in 2026.  Next, all Catholics should consider a Catholic-oriented Health Care Proxy to sign and distribute to their relatives and attorneys.  The website of the New York State Catholic Conference (nyscatholic.org) has a booklet offering Catholic guidance, including a draft Health Care Proxy, that is downloadable from the website in English and Spanish.  Moreover, Catholics in the healing arts and sciences should learn and insist on their conscience rights under applicable laws, policies, and union contracts to take no part in procedures arising from this bill or related decisions made by insurance companies.  Finally, Catholic investors and stockholders should sponsor resolutions at annual meetings and elect directors who will not cut costs or raise profits by eliminating people who suffer instead of treating suffering patients. 

You are the light of the world

 

Scripture readings for this reflection can be found at Tuesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time | USCCB

In our gospel for today, the Lord uses two metaphors to describe how we, as His followers, are to live out our lives. 

First, Jesus says we are to be the salt of the earth. The reason people use salt is to add flavor to the food they are preparing to eat. Without salt, the food will taste bland or flat. We, as followers, are called to be like "salt" to the world in which we live. We are to bring our love of the Lord to those we meet. In doing so we are making the world a better place. It takes away the blandness and flatness of the world and brings the love of Christ to all we meet. We are to live out our Christian lives so that it's evident that we are followers of Jesus Christ. By bringing the love of Christ to those we touch each day, we are helping those around us to know the love that Christ has for everyone. That's how we are to be the "salt of the earth."

This is tied into us being the "light of the world." When people see us and how we behave, can they see that we are Christians, followers of Christ? Our faith and how we live needs to be shining examples of the love that Christ has for everyone. By seeing us, people should be seeing the love that Christ has for everyone. Much like a light bulb emanates light for all to see, we are to be the light of Christ's love for everyone. 

This reminds me of the hymn from a number of years ago, "They'll know we are Christians by our love." By showing love to everyone, we will be like the salt bringing the "flavor" of Christ love to all we meet. 

As Saint Paul says in our first reading from the 2nd letter to the Corinthians, let us always say "yes" to bringing the love of Christ into this world to bring us greater peace and joy.