Congratulatory message and blessings from the Cardinal, wishing you grace and blessings.
The feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a significant event in the Catholic Church, often celebrated on the Friday after the octave of Corpus Christi. It symbolizes the immense love and mercy of Jesus Christ, representing his boundless love for humanity. The devotion to the Sacred Heart began with the vision of sister Margaret Mary Alacoque, who received about Jesus’ heart, emphasizing the need for people to return love through prayer and devotion. This feast invites Catholics to
meditate on the infinite love of God for each individual, reflecting the profound mystery of the divine love.
The first reading of today, taken from the book of Deuteronomy, stated that “the Lord set his love upon you and chose you.” Referring to the people of Israel, a people sacred to the Lord: a holy people, a people set apart and not contaminated by the worship of false gods. The author of Deuteronomy stresses the notion of election by the covenant with God.
Israel was defined as a holy people, and when speaking about being elected, the author of Deuteronomy added that it is not the virtue and strength of the nation that caused the election, but that the love of God for the patriarchs is the main reason for choosing their descendants. (Dt.7:7-8), “It was not because you are the largest of all nations that the Lord set his heart on you and chose you, for you are really the smallest of all nations. It was because the Lord loved you and because of his fidelity to the oath he had sworn to your fathers, that he brought you out with his strong hand from the place of slavery, and ransomed you from the hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt.”
That is why St. John says, “God is love.” Here, St. John does not make any difference between the love of God and the love of neighbor. That our faith in God is made possible and even perfect through the love we have for one another. “Those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.”
Through the love of God for us, we are called to bring the people to God, especially those in need, that is the fulfilment of the mystery of the Divine love to humanity, which is the reason for our prayer today. The congregation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, here in the Archdiocese of Juba, is trying to uphold this mission of love. Loving God in our neighbor.
Our society today is totally lost in this beautiful calling, and if we are not careful, we can be converted to their way of life, forgetting the purpose of our existence and mission to the world. The circular world has very advanced means to propagate its agenda of dominance, possession though violence and exclusion. As a result, wars keep emerging with effects of destruction and loss of human lives. Where is the love of God in human society today? It seems hatred is becoming more popular. It is hidden but revealed only to more children; those whose hearts are set on fire for others.
We are because God loved us, and our mission is to love God through his creation. And we are expected to act in God’s love embodied in us, because God abides in us as well. May God accept our prayers for the SHS congregation and bless them with more love for Him and the needy.
Santo Loku Pio Doggale,
Auxiliary bishop of Juba.
Given in Juba, St. Theresa Cathedral – Kator.