Friday 12 June 2026
Sacred Heart of Jesus
Deuteronomy 7:6-11. The Lord’s kindness is everlasting to those who fear him – Ps 102(103):1-4, 6-8, 10. 1 John 4:7-16. Matthew 11:25-30.
Love beyond our imagination
‘God is love’ declares John in today’s reading, twice, in verses 8 and 16. In verse 16, he elucidates a significant implication: ‘Whoever lives in love, lives in God and God in him.’
In between these two verses, John further declares that the love of God was revealed by sending Jesus his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. We have become so familiar with these words that we can forget their power. But consider: why would God forgive terrible sins at the judgment, which the New Testament looks towards?
John is answering this crucial question: because our belief in Jesus’ loving sacrifice brings God’s love inside us; thus, at judgment, God will recognise his own love reflected back at him. This up-ends natural wisdom; this is love beyond our imagination.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus distinguishes between false wisdom and such enlightenment; the ‘rest’ he promises is the assurance of this love to come.
