Divine Appeal Reflection - 87
Today, consider in Divine Appeal 87: "My own... cannot realise how greatly they relieve the sorrow of My Heart by giving Me a place in their own hearts."
Jesus' sorrowful heart is a mirror of His selfless love and the voracity with which He yearns for humans to owe Him equal love and respect. His sorrow here precedes man’s ingratitude, neglect, wickedness, and sinfulness that hurts Him and makes Him bleed in abundance. In the Gospels, Jesus expresses His sorrow over humanity’s waywardness, lamenting how often He has longed to gather His flock together and how they were unwilling (Matthew 23:37). This touching comparison illustrates the bitter pain experienced as a result of the disregard by people of His affectionate love and insight. To console the heart of Jesus, souls are asked to render Him a place in their hearts, which is an expression of personal, devoted friendship built on love, faith, and obedience. Reciprocally, they will experience that peace and joy which Jesus has for them.
Persistent daily prayer and meditation are essential in order to grow in an intimate relationship with Jesus. As a result of prayer, particularly Mass, Rosaries, Way of the Cross, and Eucharistic Adoration, souls give their hearts to Jesus and speak to Him about joys, sorrows, and aspirations. Setting up a routine of meditation and prayer will be of great help as it will help one to move Jesus to the center of their life. Through this, they will become able to dialogue with Him personally on a daily basis as their relationship keeps on evolving. Daily practice can be our lifeboat in trials of life, delivering us to the Heart of Jesus.
Acts of charity and love also align with giving Jesus a place in our hearts, fulfilling His commandment to love one another (John 13:34-35). These manifestations of love, such as kindness, charity, and service to the less fortunate, are the most possible and powerful. By serving others, souls show their love for Jesus in action, as they imitate His compassion and mercy. This service is further emphasized in the teaching that whatever is done for the least of His brothers and sisters is done for Him (Matthew 25:40). Generous acts of charity allow Christians to spread God’s love in the world, and people in need witness our good deeds, realizing and being inspired by the presence of the light of the world.
The divine appeal includes dedication of one’s life in totality, so that Christ would live in one’s mind, heart, and body. By following Mary’s example of complete surrender (Luke 1:18) souls can open their hearts to receive Jesus fully. Sister Anna Ali's testimony reinforces this call for deep personal devotion. This unified approach does not just console Jesus but also transform humanity, among which they become burning lamps of Christ, whose love and peace continue to illuminate the universe. May we, like Sister Anna Ali and the Blessed Mother Mary, open our hearts fully to Jesus, embracing His love and sharing it with others, thus relieving the sorrow of His Heart and becoming true instruments of His grace and peace.
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