Heart to Heart

Ivonne J. Hernandez reflects on how we should respond when we witness sacrileges and abuses toward Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

May the heart of Jesus, in the Most Blessed Sacrament, be praised, adored, and loved with grateful affection, at every moment, in all the tabernacles of the world, even to the end of time. Amen.

“Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” (John 20:29)

“I do believe, help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24)

When we love Jesus and see Him abused in the Blessed Sacrament, how it hurts our hearts! Yet, how often are we tempted to make justice by taking matters into our own hands? How great is the temptation to think we know better how God wants things to go?

The suffering we experience when we see Jesus willingly give Himself on the Cross, and now in the Blessed Sacrament, becomes our offering of love. We offer this in atonement … we suffer with Him for love. For love of Him, and love of others … for He wants His mercy to overflow to all.

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We know we have in Our Blessed Mother the perfect model and example of how to adore God. Let us picture her at the foot of the Cross. That is where we find ourselves when we witness sacrileges, abuses, and all sorts of indignities towards the Blessed Sacrament. We are witnessing the free-will offering of the Son. Mary stayed with Him and suffered with Him. In contrast, let us look at what Peter did when Jesus was betrayed by Judas … he took out his sword.

Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus. Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its scabbard. Shall I not drink the cup that the Father gave me?” (John 18:10-11)

Jesus wants to drink the cup … all the way to the last drop.

“My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants [would] be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here.” (John 18:36)

Jesus is not someone who needs us to defend Him. He just wants our love.

“Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.” (John 14:23)

This is where we worship Him in Spirit and Truth (cf. John 4:24). It is not the beauty of the building, or the vestments, or the music, but the beauty of a meek and humble heart willingly suffering as an offering with the Son.

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

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