“Loving Savior, let my heart be united with Yours. Let my will be conformed to Yours in all things. May Your will be the rule of all my desires and actions.”
- St. Gertrude the Great
Today is the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King, the culmination of the liturgical year. It was instituted in 1925 by Pope Pius XI to reassert Christ’s sovereignty over all. Let us reflect if Christ the King reigns in my heart, mind, conscience, soul, spirit, will, actions, body and entire being. I recently read Fr. Thomas D. Williams’ marvelous book, A Heart Like His. He notes 30 qualities of Jesus’ Heart that should attract us to becoming more like Jesus— more human and more holy:
1. A Humble Heart — “Learn from Me, for I am meek and humble of Heart” (Mt 11:29) Humility is being down-to-earth: a commoner, grounded, not on a pedestal.
2. A Thirsty Heart — “Give me to drink” (Jn 4:7) Jesus’ Heart thirsts for souls and love which is the Father’s joy. We hunger for ‘insatiable things’ but Jesus’ greatest thirst is for our conversion.
3. An Undivided Heart — “You cannot serve 2 masters” (Lk 16:13) Jesus had no secret vices, skeletons, attachments, crutches or double life. Disordered desires are contrary to God’s plan.
4. A Trusting Heart — “I know you always hear me” (Jn 11:42) Jesus had full confidence and trust in the Father’s love and fidelity that could see Him through all.
5. A Compassionate Heart — “I have compassion for the crowd.” (Mk 8:2) Jesus had compassion, meaning the ability to walk in someone else’s moccasins and share others’ suffering by seeking to alleviate it.
6. A Passionate Heart — “Zeal for Your house consumes me” (Jn 2:17) Jesus was passionate about His mission, the salvation of souls, the Father’s glory, freeing the downtrodden and everything He did in life.
7. A Personal Heart — “I know my own and my own know Me” (Jn 10:14) Jesus did not distinguish between important people and unimportant ones. All were of infinite worth to Him.
8. A Pious Heart — “Ask and you will receive” (Lk. 11:9) In asking, seeking, knocking, Jesus promises we will be heard and answered.
9. A Pure Heart — “Blessed are the Pure in Heart” (Mt. 5:8) Purity means "authenticity" - nothing artificial, phony or contrived. A heart that is free and filled with love for God and neighbor.
10. A Merciful Heart — “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Mt. 9:13) In the cross both justice and mercy kiss; love triumphs! Sin is misery, mercy is paradise.
11. An Honest Heart — “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks” (Mt. 12:34) Dishonesty, hypocrisy and duplicity have no place in Jesus’ Heart. They deceive.
12. A Poor Heart — “No where to lay His Head” (Lk 9:58). Jesus was born in poverty; lived in poverty of spirit; and died rich in forgiveness on the cross.
13. A Disciplined Heart — “Long before dawn…” (Mt 11:29) Jesus’ Heart was well ordered: disciplined by love, urged by love and compelled by love.
14. An Unpretentious Heart — “Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing” (Mt 6:3) Jesus did not care whether people praised or censured Him.
15. A Prayerful Heart — “Abba, Father!” (Mt 14:36) Jesus wants our friendship, intimacy, trust and company. We must make a daily "prayer-appointment."
16. A Radical Heart — “Get behind me, Satan!” (Mt 16:23) Jesus doesn’t beat-around-the-bush or mince words. He doesn’t compromise His convictions and principles. It is right or it is wrong.
17. A Realistic Heart — “What does it profit a man?” (Mk 14:36) All the treasures of earth that we pile up can never possibly equal heaven. All the sorrows endured on earth, could never outweigh God’s glory.
18. A Simple Heart — “Let the little children come to me” (Mt 19:14) No special titles, no degrees, no rank, no VIPs; let us live simply so that others can simply live.
19. A Grateful Heart — “I love you, Father” (Mt. 11:25) Gratitude pleases the Heart of Christ. The humbler we are, the more we are aware of our own unworthiness of the many gifts we daily receive.
20. A Joyful Heart — “That my joy may be in you” (Jn 15:11) St. Teresa of Avila said, “A sad saint is a sorry saint.” Be a joyous and contagious carrier of serene grace.
21. A Reassuring Heart — “Do not let your hearts be troubled” (Jn 14:1) Jesus feels a desire to protect us, gather us and take care of us. He will not abandon or ever forget us.
22. A Courageous Heart — “Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem” (Lk 9:51) Courage is inner strength to undertake difficult tasks and patiently bear suffering.
8. A Pious Heart — “Ask and you will receive” (Lk. 11:9) In asking, seeking, knocking, Jesus promises we will be heard and answered.
9. A Pure Heart — “Blessed are the Pure in Heart” (Mt. 5:8) Purity means "authenticity" - nothing artificial, phony or contrived. A heart that is free and filled with love for God and neighbor.
10. A Merciful Heart — “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Mt. 9:13) In the cross both justice and mercy kiss; love triumphs! Sin is misery, mercy is paradise.
11. An Honest Heart — “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks” (Mt. 12:34) Dishonesty, hypocrisy and duplicity have no place in Jesus’ Heart. They deceive.
12. A Poor Heart — “No where to lay His Head” (Lk 9:58). Jesus was born in poverty; lived in poverty of spirit; and died rich in forgiveness on the cross.
13. A Disciplined Heart — “Long before dawn…” (Mt 11:29) Jesus’ Heart was well ordered: disciplined by love, urged by love and compelled by love.
14. An Unpretentious Heart — “Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing” (Mt 6:3) Jesus did not care whether people praised or censured Him.
15. A Prayerful Heart — “Abba, Father!” (Mt 14:36) Jesus wants our friendship, intimacy, trust and company. We must make a daily "prayer-appointment."
16. A Radical Heart — “Get behind me, Satan!” (Mt 16:23) Jesus doesn’t beat-around-the-bush or mince words. He doesn’t compromise His convictions and principles. It is right or it is wrong.
17. A Realistic Heart — “What does it profit a man?” (Mk 14:36) All the treasures of earth that we pile up can never possibly equal heaven. All the sorrows endured on earth, could never outweigh God’s glory.
18. A Simple Heart — “Let the little children come to me” (Mt 19:14) No special titles, no degrees, no rank, no VIPs; let us live simply so that others can simply live.
19. A Grateful Heart — “I love you, Father” (Mt. 11:25) Gratitude pleases the Heart of Christ. The humbler we are, the more we are aware of our own unworthiness of the many gifts we daily receive.
20. A Joyful Heart — “That my joy may be in you” (Jn 15:11) St. Teresa of Avila said, “A sad saint is a sorry saint.” Be a joyous and contagious carrier of serene grace.
21. A Reassuring Heart — “Do not let your hearts be troubled” (Jn 14:1) Jesus feels a desire to protect us, gather us and take care of us. He will not abandon or ever forget us.
22. A Courageous Heart — “Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem” (Lk 9:51) Courage is inner strength to undertake difficult tasks and patiently bear suffering.
23. An Obedient Heart — “Whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise” (Jn 5:19) One obeys not because it is easy, desirable or sensible, but because it is right, even at the cost of one’s owns dreams, wealth or relationships.
24. A Universal Heart — “Everyone is searching for you!” (Mk 1:37) A heart that includes all and excludes none.
25. A Magnanimous Heart — “Love your enemies” (Lk 6:27) Whenever cheated, betrayed or let down by anyone, we have the opportunity to “love our enemies."
26. A Eucharistic Heart — “This is my Body” (Lk 22:19) The truest essence of love is complete self donation.
27. A Peaceful Heart — “My peace I give you” (Jn 14:27) The Hebrew greeting “Shalom” signifies the fullness of being, the presence of everything good—wholeness, health and prosperity.
28. A Patient Heart — “Put your finger in my side” (Jn 20:27) We all have defects, limitations and human failings yet Jesus is great in patience with us.
29. A Heavenly Heart — “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be” (Lk 12: 34) Jesus and His kingdom must be seen each day.
30. A Wise Heart — “Man does not live by bread alone” (Lk 4:4) Wisdom is to seek what really matters: God’s will.
24. A Universal Heart — “Everyone is searching for you!” (Mk 1:37) A heart that includes all and excludes none.
25. A Magnanimous Heart — “Love your enemies” (Lk 6:27) Whenever cheated, betrayed or let down by anyone, we have the opportunity to “love our enemies."
26. A Eucharistic Heart — “This is my Body” (Lk 22:19) The truest essence of love is complete self donation.
27. A Peaceful Heart — “My peace I give you” (Jn 14:27) The Hebrew greeting “Shalom” signifies the fullness of being, the presence of everything good—wholeness, health and prosperity.
28. A Patient Heart — “Put your finger in my side” (Jn 20:27) We all have defects, limitations and human failings yet Jesus is great in patience with us.
29. A Heavenly Heart — “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be” (Lk 12: 34) Jesus and His kingdom must be seen each day.
30. A Wise Heart — “Man does not live by bread alone” (Lk 4:4) Wisdom is to seek what really matters: God’s will.
A great danger is to have big heads and small hearts. Instead, let us mirror Christ the King’s Heart as Mary did through purity, holiness, faithfulness, humility and love. From my heart to all, with prayers and love ... happy Thanksgiving!
