Friday June 16, 2023
Good News Reflections:
Making scripture meaningful to your daily life
by Terry Modica
“God indeed is my savior, rescuing me from my troubled past.”
Good News Reflection for:
Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
June 16, 2023
Today’s Prayer:
Holy Spirit, I need Your love to love others as You want me to. May my obedience to Your commandments also bear the fruit of Your love fully alive in me. Amen.
Subscribe to Today’s Saint Quote & Prayer:
gnm.org/SaintQuotes/
Today’s Readings:
Hosea 11:1, 3-4, 8c-9
Isaiah 12:2-6
Ephesians 3:8-12, 14-19
John 19:31-37
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/061623.cfm
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/daily-mass-reading-podcast-june-16-2023
Experience the healing love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Using the scriptures from the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, let’s find out what it means to be loved by God. Read the scripture from Hosea while substituting your own name for “Israel” and “Ephraim” (and of course, if you are a female, change “son” to “daughter”). Change “Egypt” to a problem you suffered when you were young. For example:
Thus says the Lord:
When Terry was a child I loved her,
out of occult involvement I called my daughter.
It was I who taught Terry to walk,
who took her in My arms;
I drew her with human cords,
with bands of love;
I fostered her like one
who raises an infant to his cheeks;
Yet, though I stooped to feed my child,
she did not know that I was her healer.
Then read the Isaiah passage with the same personal angle, but now let it be the adult you of whom the verses speak:
God indeed is my savior, rescuing me from my troubled past.
I am confident and unafraid.
My strength and my courage come from the Lord,
and he is my savior.
With joy I will draw water
at the fountain of salvation.
etc.
For the reading from Ephesians, let the author, Paul, speak directly to you:
For this reason I kneel before the Father,
asking him to bless you according to the riches of his glory
so that you are strengthened with the power of the Holy Spirit,
so that Christ dwells in your heart through faith,
so that you will be rooted and grounded in love,
so that you may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones
what is the breadth and length and height and depth
of the love that Christ has for you, which surpasses knowledge,
so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
As you read the scriptures this way, do you feel any healing taking place? Are you more aware of God’s tremendous love for you? This is what it means to experience the Sacred Heart of Jesus — the heart that in the Gospel reading was pierced for your sake.
A Sacred Heart Prayer For All People
by Kathy Taylor, GNM Office Assistant
Loving Jesus, Your Sacred Heart is open to all mankind and full of love for each one of us.
We who love You have experienced Your love in our lives, but we have family and friends who have never fully come to love You, or turned away from Your love.
In Your mercy, Jesus, let them feel the touch of Your gentle love and gather them back to You.
Lord, Your Sacred Heart is filled with love for all who have not heard of You; help us to teach them of You and bring them to love You.
The compassion of Your Sacred Heart does not judge anyone, but calls us to witness Your loving truth to those who scorn or fear You.
Through Your precious Sacred Heart, bring all people to come to love You and live in peace and true freedom to give You all praise, honor and glory. Amen.
© 2023 by Terry A. Modica
Access more in our new Calendar of Reflections.
To distribute the Good News Reflections in your church bulletin or in RCIA or faith sharing groups, please contact us.
You can also receive this & more faith-builders by text message on your phone.
Keep it going! This reflection reached you thanks to benefactors. Please support this ministry today.
Post your prayer request.
How else can we serve you today? Visit our homepage.
Search more reflections in our continually growing database.
Homebound, Prison & Hospital Ministers are invited to print and distribute them without further permission.
Continue your prayer time with these:
Pray with Saints | Pray the Rosary | Other Prayers | Random Quotes.
Order and share Terry Modica's books