May 20, 2026 // Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter // Optional Memorial of Saint Bernardine of Siena, Priest

Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Gospel for the Memorial of Saint Bernardine: Luke 9:57-62 

Reflect on the Word //

“Imagine how Jesus must feel.”

I was surprised when Father seemingly diverted the conversation away from my heart to Jesus’. Spiritual direction had been tender over the last few days of my silent retreat, but through it all His Sacred Heart was there to console me. There it was in an image above my bed in the retreat center, delicately painted in deep red and gold on the chapel tabernacle, exposed on His chest from a statue in the garden. The Sacred Heart of Jesus, it seemed, had been given to me from Heaven as the theme for my retreat. 

And as wounds came up, my longings and hopes, I began to see that not only was His Sacred Heart being offered to me in my need, but that He wanted me to offer Him my heart back. I had been invited to share in His own wounds, longing, and hope.

Today’s Gospel for the Optional Memorial of Saint Bernardine is full of would-be followers of Jesus. They’ve been invited but, like us, they already have full lives. Responsibilities, desires, and fears keep them from responding to Jesus fully. Perhaps we, too, think we could follow Him radically if we had more time . . . Once we graduate, or when the kids are grown, or after we finish the new season of our favorite show, then we will have more time for prayer.

But time ticks on and Jesus’ Heart is left out in the cold. We stare at our phones instead of looking into His eyes in daily prayer. We drive past the church or Adoration chapel because we only have a few minutes anyway. We favor a podcast (yes, even a Catholic one) over communing with Him in silence. I do it too. And all the while “the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head” (Luke 9:58).

But friend, there is no better time to follow Jesus than today. We have no greater need of His help than we do right now. And there is no more satisfying reward than His friendship. Choose Him. Say yes to following Jesus today and every day after. In doing so, He will heal your heart and you will console His.

Relate to the Lord // Look up images of the Sacred Heart today. Which one resonates with you and why?