Though I have lived most of my life in California, my heart is still attached to the Chicagoland area of Illinois. As a Chicago north sider, I am a devoted Cub and Bear fan and have an affinity for the entire city; especially downtown.
I have many fond memories of what I thought, said and did in the Windy City. I embraced many opportunities it offered just to be a part. It was so exciting to be able to live a life that could make a difference for everyone, if one took the time to explore the possibilities. I was one with the city in my heart and I belonged.
That is what the eleventh Promise of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is drawing us to do: Devote our lives to all that Jesus offers us, and we will be His for eternity. Wow! What a promise! Our names will be written in His Heart and never be eliminated. It implies deep friendship with the Lord and the grace of final perseverance.
In St. John’s Gospel, Chapter 14, Verses 9 – 11, Jesus speaks to the Apostle Philip saying: “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” (9) “Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me, or else, believe because of the works I do.” (11)
This is the Promise telling us to be promoters of the devotion. It asks us to spread this devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and practice it. St. Paul in his letter to the Colossians, Chapter 1, Verses 15 – 16, illustrates God’s love for His people being boundless when from the cross Jesus says He thirsts; thirsting for souls in which He was willing to suffer and die.
In the Epistle of St. James, Chapter 4, Verses 7 – 10, he writes: “Therefore submit to God; resist the devil and he will take flight. Draw close to God, and He will draw close to you.” (7 – 8) “Be humbled in the sight of the Lord and He will raise you on high.” (10) The 11th Promise of the Sacred Heart follows right along with the Scriptures. By promoting the devotion of the Sacred Heart, we are reaching out to others whom the Lord loves.
The Promises that Jesus offers for the devotion of His Sacred Heart all point to His love for us through the symbolism of His Heart. God created us to love Him with our whole heart, mind, soul and strength. Jesus wants us to never give up, that is why he gives us Sacraments to clean us up. His Heart does the rest.
In whatever areas of our life we devote our time and energy, make sure that we give equal time to our Lord who created us out of His love to use the talents and gifts we have to reach out to others. That is what Jesus is asking of us in promoting this devotion so that when it is our time to return home, our names will be written in His Heart for our salvation.
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