In and From the Heart: Pentecost and The Sacred Heart of Jesus

So It's June which means it's Sacred Heart Month. In 2025, it also coincides with the Feast of Pentecost. Certainly the Sacred Heart devotion clearly deals with Jesus' heart, yet there is something that about Pentecost reveals something of Jesus' heart. Let's plumb the depths.

Pentecost begins with fire. Act 2 states: "and suddenly a sound came from heaven like a rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. and there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them" (2-3). The fire here does symbolize the Holy Spirit, though this fire was promised by Jesus. His fidelity to his promise, and yes Jesus is God and God always keeps promises, but it is still an act of love to send the Holy Spirit as it does not leave the Apostles abandoned. The image of the Sacred Heart is surrounded by fire which symbolizes his love for humanity. What greater act of love for humanity is there to imbue the Apostles (the first Pope, Peter, and the first bishops, the rest of the Apostles) with the Holy Spirit?

After this of course, the Apostles start speaking in tongue, and while some do react with perplexity and awe, some though say "they are filled with new wine'" (Acts 2:13). This in a sense is calling them drunk, which is very unfortunate, this shows their hardness of hear. This type of behavior may need reparation which I a key aspect of the devotion to the Sacred Heart. Talking about hardness of heart, Peter's first speech after this coming of the Holly Spirit calls one to conversion.

Peter gives a rousing speech after receiving the Holy Spirit. He first calls out their error in supposing the Apostles were drunk referring to the prophet Joel. Then he expounds scripture (at that time the Hebrew bible to prove Christ as Lord and savior. The last line is so telling. Peter says: "Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly, that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus'" (Acts 2:30). This line is a clear calll to conversion. This would certainly console the heart of Jesus a primary goal of the devotion to the Sacred Heart.

Now a final piece of Pentecost that connects to the Sacred Heart devotion is the fact that many converts joined the Church that day. Acts states that "There were added about three thousand". What a beautiful fruit! It is also said that these converts "held steadfastly to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers" (Acts 2:42). Now the breaking of the bread is also a name for the early Church's eucharistic celebration. As one of the primary aspects of the Devotion to the sacred heart devotion is to receive the Eucharist (worthily) on nine consecutive first Fridays, is telling that at Pentecost the converts dedicated themselves to the Eucharist, answering the Call to intimate union with the Lord.

More could probably be said, but that is where I will end this reflection. Happy Month of the Sacred Heart