His love alone... but not alone

This week, I've been waiting, with varying degrees of impatience and resignation, for print copies of Dilexit nos, Pope Francis' encyclical on the Sacred Heart, to arrive at St Paul's bookshop. Yes, I can read it online; but for slow, reflective reading, for lengthy pauses and knowing where I am, and have been, with the text, I need a print copy. (And I hope that by the time you read this, I will have my print copy in my hands!)

But for now, online must suffice, and online is where I went on Wednesday, in response to a world turning inexorably darker and crueller. Because where else can... should... must a Sacred Heart sister go... where else bring her heartache, and the anguish and pain of so many, except to the Heart of Jesus? And on Wednesday evening I remembered that when Pope Francis announced that he was preparing Dilexit nos, it was in the context of a world 'which seems to have lost its heart'. In that respect, its publication two weeks ago has been achingly timely. 

That evening I turned, for oh-so necessary hope and love, to the final paragraphs of Dilexit nos, and read Christ’s love can give a heart to our world and revive love wherever we think that the ability to love has been definitively lost... 

The wounded side of Christ continues to pour forth that stream which is never exhausted, never passes away, but offers itself time and time again to all those who wish to love as he did. For his love alone can bring about a new humanity. 

His love alone... but not alone, because he calls us all to love with him, and to love like him. He calls us to love, and see, and think, with and from his Heart... And there are millions and millions of us around the world who seek to do only this. Herein lies so much hope. And once again I remind myself of my responsibility, to daily be part of this chain of love: remind myself, too, that I cannot pray for others to love, or become more peaceful, if I am less than loving and peaceful myself. And that - the constant, daily conversion and widening of my own heart - requires far more effort than praying for someone else's change of heart... requires grace and growth, challenge and self-awareness... but it is essential, and lies at the heart of my call and mission as a Religious of the Sacred Heart. 

And may we all make our own the prayer at the end of the encyclical, and ask our Lord Jesus Christ to grant that his Sacred Heart may continue to pour forth the streams of living water that can heal the hurt we have caused, strengthen our ability to love and serve others, and inspire us to journey together towards a just, solidary and fraternal world.