June 23rd, 2017 – The Sacred Heart of Jesus

 

Dear friends of MMJMJ,

 

As we begin summer and celebrate the holy feast from which our Monastery takes its name, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we are grateful for the astounding graces God has poured out on us this year. Indeed, “from His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” (John 1:16)

 

It is beyond the capacity of words to fully convey the reality of God’s love. What is more, unless God Himself reveals the depth of this love to us, we could never know it. But this is precisely what the Father desires to do: to reveal His great love to each one of us – the love with which He sent His Son to die for us, and in order to draw us to Himself. This is what this holy feast is all about. The Sacred Heart of Jesus is the perfect revelation of the Father’s love for us, and of His intense desire to bless and give salvation to all. The vision of the Sacred Heart was entrusted to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in the 1600s with a message from Him that is summed up in these words:

 

“Behold the heart which has loved so much, and has received so little love in return.”

 

This message reveals our essential calling. God has called upon us His children to pray, to adore and to console the Heart of Jesus by offering our hearts, set on fire with love for Him, in reparation for those who neglect, disregard or even turn away from God’s love. Thus, united to the Sacred Heart in the loving offering of our lives to God, we allow Christ to work through us to draw others to Him. All Christians, in fact, in virtue of their baptism, are called to live out this message. We pray that you, dear friends and readers, and all who have “known and believe the love God has for us,” (1 John 4:16) may be led by Mary our Mother ever closer to the Sacred Heart of her Son, to be transformed into souls that console Jesus, the Son of the Father, through the grace of the Holy Spirit.

 

You may be familiar with our custom not to end a newsletter without a sincere note of gratitude. Thank you, dear friends, for your constant prayers and support. Just now we are drilling a well, and preparing to move forward with the building project. We even expect the well drilling to come to completion today, the feast of the Sacred Heart. May rivers of living water spring up to eternal life within our hearts! (John 7:37-39) Please be assured that we pray for you and your families daily, and in particular for those needs that you make known to us, as well as those that are known best only by the loving Heart of our Lord Jesus. May God the Father bless you in the Sacred Heart of His Son Jesus Christ, enfolding you there with His protection and peace, through the grace and power of the Holy Spirit.

 

With love in the Holy Family,

 

The Maronite Monks of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph+