First Friday Reflections on the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Friday, March 2, 2018

For it seems to me that the true happiness of a soul consists in conformity with this most adorable will [will of God]. It is in this our heart finds its peace, our soul its joy and repose. He who clings to God is made of one spirit with God…God in His loving goodness is pleased to make happy the soul in which He encounters no resistance. On the contrary, things never go right with those who resist Him…the Lord wants us to find all our pleasure in Him alone, so that He may give us all our heart desires! [Letter written to Mother Louise-Henriette de Soudeilles, at Moulins, January 6, 1683]

Reflection: Jesus, a soul whose will is wholly united to Yours, abandons all, surrenders all into Your hands. How true it is when one unites their whole will to yours, your blessings are greater than this soul could ever imagine, the joy this soul experiences when one holds nothing back for themselves and gives all to you radiates from their presence for all the world to see.

How I know the joy from surrendering all to You! But what does it mean to abandon all to you, to surrender all to You? I place my plans, hopes and dreams into Your loving hands, giving you every ounce of control, kneel before you, and say, “Your will, Jesus, not mine.” In Your all-knowing goodness, You take these plans, hopes and dreams, and if they are in accordance with Your will, you transform them, enhance them, and make them more beautiful and glorious than I ever could.

Now what if these hopes and dreams of mine are not in accordance with Your will? You gently lay them aside, lift me up, and with great joy, show me the plans you have for me instead, which are infinitely more glorious and beautiful than I could have ever imagined for myself. And once again I come to see Your will is my heart’s truest desire.

But, oh, how I also know the sadness and misery which comes when I take control and do not surrender all to you! My only hope then is to abandon myself into Your Heart! You, knowing my true desire is to love You alone, do not reject me, but instead, provide a place to heal and shower me with mercy, purifying me with the loving flames of Your Most Sacred Heart.

Jesus, may I come to always surrender my will each moment of every day to You! May Mary, and Her Most Immaculate Heart, lead us all to Your Merciful and Loving Heart where You shower all who rest there with abundant graces and blessings! Saint Margaret Mary, pray for us! Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us and on the whole world!

First Friday Reflections Archives

Below are previous versions of our First Friday Reflections.
January 2018February2018