Drawing Close to the Sacred Heart: Lessons from my "Abide" Year

I don’t remember when my devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus started. I think it was sometime around the time I experienced what one could call my “missionary conversion”. Upon returning home from a four week mission trip in Scotland in the spring of 2019, I remember feeling a radical shift in my disposition towards my relationship with Jesus and my relationships with those around me. It was as if there had been a veil in front of my eyes for so long, and suddenly, it was lifted to see the world in an entirely different light. I suddenly realized that my faith; this personal relationship I had with Jesus, was not just for me. That it was not something I could keep to myself. And with that, everything changed. I couldn’t look around me; at people in my life, in my classes or simply walking down the street without thinking that their lives would be infinitely better if only they knew Jesus. My heart broke for those who did not know Jesus, or did not know Him well enough. 

At some point, I realized that if my feeble, imperfect heart could break for those who were unaware of the life-giving relationship offered to them in Jesus, how much more did His perfect heart break for these people, His children, whom He died for. I think that this realization is when I began to love the Sacred Heart of Jesus; when I began to turn to His heart, seek His heart and love His heart which so sacrificially loves mine. He who had allowed my heart to break for what broke His; giving me the slightest glimpse into His deep, infinite mercy for humanity. 

The Sacred Heart of Jesus has thus been a refuge, a guide and an anchor in my life as a missionary; giving me life and direction in my accompaniment of His beloved children towards relationship with Him. However, unlike many other devotions that guide us and elevate our gaze to eternity, especially in ministry, there is something distinctly human, raw and grounding about the image of Jesus’ Sacred Heart. 

The heart itself is an image so strongly connected to the human experience. For many centuries it was believed that the “heart” was the center of the human person. In reality, our idea of the heart as a pulsing muscle of blood and nothing more is rather recent in comparison. 

The heart was considered to be the center of not just the physical body, but the whole person. Thus, this image of a bleeding, pulsing, thorn encircled and flaming heart gives us a glimpse into the very core of our Saviour, our Friend, our Beloved. 

I used to believe for so long that God was so unapproachable, so distant. Even as I began to experience conversion, the idea of approaching Jesus and drawing close to Him seemed almost wrong, or sacrilegious. In ministry I have heard these same sentiments over and over again from believers and non believers alike. 

This image of Jesus’ exposed, raw heart shows us the exact opposite. It says “Come and see…I have made myself like you so that you don’t stay away”. Think about that. God loves us so much, He wants us so close to Him that He literally took on our human form. Jesus Christ had a real human heart inside of His chest, He cried real tears and shed real blood to say “My son, my daughter, do not be afraid. All I want is to be close to you.”

He does not need our love. He has no need for our praise. And yet His heart pursues ours as if He cannot exist without us. As if His heart will not beat without ours abiding and engrafted to His. 

The great mystery and great humanity of Jesus’ Sacred Heart can only be summed up in this one word: Mercy. 

An undeserved gift, an unmerited redemption and yet, mercy is Jesus’ answer. Mercy defines His Sacred Heart. It is mercy that flows from His heart which is wounded and pierced by thorns, all for my sake and for your sake. 

Jesus, make my heart more and more like yours. Your heart which overflows with love for Your children. Your heart which you leave exposed and vulnerable for our sake, so that we don’t have to be afraid to draw close to You. Your heart which gave everything for love of ours.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You.