Date: April 11, 2020 ()

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This is the love of Christ that is truly life-giving and a source of joyful hope.

There is a statue of Jesus in my home church I used to look at way back when I was a kid. I asked my grandma what was the name of that statue I saw. She just said: “Sagrado Corazon.” I could not understand what was that but what is vivid still in my memory is that the man in that statue has holes on his hands and his finger points to his wounded and bleeding heart. When I was older I realized it was the image of the Sacred Heart.

All our sins left deep wounds on the body of our Lord, and most significantly they caused the Lord’s heart to bleed. They are no ordinary wounds. All of which caused excruciating pain that penetrates into the morrow of Jesus’ spirit. This pain is too much and beyond imagination. But Jesus takes all this pain and still forgives.

There were times in the past when I also struggled going to the sacrament of reconciliation. Not only because I am not comfortable putting into the open my darkest sins, but also because I am afraid and ashamed. Fear and shame would seize me because I thought my sins were just too big to be forgiven. Fear and shame would seize me because I am weak and I could not guarantee the Lord that I would not sin again. Fear and shame would seize me because there were times that I am just unwilling to take up the cross or to do the cost of discipleship. Fear and shame would seize me because sometimes I realize my heart is not ready to love Him again as I should. I guess it’s everyone’s fear too, because most of us realize it’s never easy to embrace the challenge of the new life, and we never want to frustrate the Lord for our repeated downfall.

But looking at His body bruised, His heart crashed, I see a beckoning of a compassionate Father calling me out to come to Him, telling me never be afraid or ashamed. His love is stronger than the lashes and wounds that I bring Him. What a wonderful love. It is a love that forgets our betrayals but delights on our repentance and coming home. It is a love that rejoices over simply seeing His sons and daughters around in His presence.

Yes perhaps I am guilty of scourging the Lord, of stoning Him, or of insulting Him or even of smashing the hammer to nail Him on the wood of the cross. Mine is too horrible a sin to deserve forgiveness, but I always hear Him whisper: forgive them Father for they do not know what they are doing.

Looking at Him on the cross, Jesus is telling me: Don’t be afraid to come to me, I can take the pain, and still forgive you!

A cousin of mine who was a one year old, and I was a nine-year-old then, happened to have a severe cold and congestion. She was crying hysterically trying to get the attention of her parents, signaling them that something is really terribly wrong with her breathing. My aunt could not actually calm her down however she tried while trying to tell my uncle to do something. My uncle, trying to figure out the best that he could do for her daughter’s relief, took the baby in his arm and started sucking off the mucus from the baby’s nostril. He made it. Not long after, they were able to put the baby to deep sleep. And that poor cousin of mine is now a nurse. To me, it was an odd thing to see, but it could be one of the moving sights in my memory, showing me a father’s love for her child. This looks like the love of Jesus for us. He can take the pain that comes from our betrayal; He can take the oddest and ugliest things about us, and embrace us still in His forgiving love.

Jesus our Lord has a great heart—a big heart to be able to forgive us seventy-seven times and perhaps more. His is a heart that bleeds for loving us.

Today is Holy Saturday, and we are all looking forward to celebrating Easter. Let us remember that the love that wipes away our wretchedness is the same love that rolls open the tomb to illumine its darkness and put out the sting of death. We look forward to our sure victory that has also become our destiny. This is the love of Christ that is truly life-giving and a source of joyful hope.