IN THIS SPACE
As an educator who deeply believes in the power of story, I blend narratives of my own experience with teaching points to share what has cultivated my on-going growth that I hope will support you in your own journey. Grounded in my identity as His beloved daughter, I celebrate God's goodness woven throughout my life as a testimony to the way He creates each of us as unique and unrepeatable. Come along as I share the story of my soul. My prayer is that it encourages you to reflect more deeply on your story and that it inspires you to support others in doing the same.
Drawn to His Heart
For this reason I kneel before the Father,
from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory
to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self,
and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;
that you, rooted and grounded in love,
may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones
what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge,
so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
These lines from Ephesians 3:14-19 are contained within the second reading for today - the readings for the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. I love the month of June. It might be my favorite month of the year liturgically because of the focus on the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Within the month, the solemnity is an extra special day.
This reading highlights the relationship of the Trinity shared with us, knowing how Christ's love roots us and grounds us in order to be filled with God's fullness. The power of his capacity to strengthen us provides encouragement, especially when we find ourselves most discouraged. We know with faith that we have something to cling to - that we are being strengthened in our inner selves, even as it seems like we are weaker than ever.
The prayer after Communion for today's Mass reads, "May this sacrament of charity, O Lord, make us fervent with the fire of holy love, so that, drawn always to your Son, we may learn to see him in our neighbor."
This solemnity is all about relationships - relationship with the Lord and relationships with each other. It is about receiving and giving - allowing him to conform our hearts to his today and throughout the year, so that we may reflect him to others and to see him in others.
He draws us to his heart. There he wishes fill us - with his rest, with his peace, with his love. The invitation is there to come to know and experience over time the breadth and length and height and depth.
Allow him to lead you deeper into his fullness.
Within this blog and website, unless otherwise noted, all excerpts from Sacred Scripture and the Lectionary for the Mass are as follows:
Scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
