The sun was shining, but it did little to console the coldness I felt in my heart. I watched my best guy friend (and secret crush) talk and laugh with another girl . . . a girl he had just asked to be his girlfriend. I was young, but it was my first taste of love and heartbreak.
That memory came to mind as I read the autobiography of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque whose feast day we celebrate today.
Saint Margaret Mary was a French nun living in the 1600s. While in the convent, she experienced apparitions of Jesus. He spoke to her about His Sacred Heart and how it burns for love of mankind. Even more striking to me, Jesus also spoke of the immense sorrow He felt from the ingratitude and coldness He received from those He loved.
I’ve tried to wrap my head around that. Jesus loves us so much He not only suffered, died, and conquered death, but He deigned to become our literal Bread of Life so He would always remain close to us. He longs to talk to us and unite Himself with us. Yet, far too often, He is left alone, or worse, reviled and ridiculed.
Although our human experiences of rejection are minuscule in comparison to what Jesus experienced, it can still move us to sympathize and want to console Our Lord and love Him more fervently. Personally, it has inspired me to talk to Him more during the day, stop by the adoration chapel for a few minutes, and begin the First Friday devotion in which you receive Holy Communion nine First Fridays in a row.
The majority of us are not nuns and it isn't our vocation to spend countless hours before the Blessed Sacrament every day. However, it is our vocation to love. The more we turn our hearts to Jesus and the more we curb our selfishness and reach out in charity to those around us, the closer our hearts will draw towards the Sacred Heart of Jesus, bringing Him love and consolation.
Learn more about the First Fridays devotion here.
Bobbi Rol is a wife, mama and blogger living on the Monterey Bay in CA with her husband, teen daughter, and three rambunctious boys. When she is not dodging light sabers or stepping on Legos, she can be found outside with her family, catching a late night movie, or decorating her planner. She is a contributing author to our children's devotional prayer book, Rise Up and our Advent devotional book, All the Generations. You can find out more about her here.
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