I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who put to death the body and, after that, can do no more.
But I will tell you whom to fear: Fear the one who, after killing you, is able to throw you into hell.
This one you must fear. Don’t you buy five sparrows for two pennies? Yet not one of them has been forgotten by God.
Even the hairs of your head have been numbered. Don’t be afraid! Are you less worthy in the eyes of God than many sparrows?

REFLECTION:
One of the most beautiful Catholic traditions we have is the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (1690+),
our Saint for today, was the chosen vehicle for the promotion of this devotion.
As a Visitation nun she was visited by Jesus who revealed to her His wounded Sacred Heart.
Jesus revealed to her His anguish of being alone in the garden of Gethsemane and his desire, therefore,
for a Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament on 1st Thursdays and the 1st Friday devotion in reparation for sins against the most Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Jesus told her that the most painful wound He had was the wound of people doubting His mercy,
of people thinking that their sins are unforgivable and beyond the cleansing power of His blood.
The last temptation of Satan is what the Gospel today calls the “yeast of hypocrisy” or the sin of pride with Satan telling
the sinner that he or she does not need to be forgiven. The message of Jesus to Margaret Mary Alacoque was that Jesus loves us all from a wounded heart,
from a pierced heart flowed blood and water that cleans sinners who surrender to the “wounded Lover, Jesus!”

© Copyright Bible Diary 2020