The month of June finds us celebrating the Solemnities of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ and the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Jesus commands us, as we heard in the Gospel of Sunday, “Take it; this is my body.” He is the way, the truth, and the life; He gives us all that we need, both grace and spiritual nourishment in the Eucharist.
Take Christ because He Himself is the Way
St. Thomas Aquinas, the Angelic Doctor, in commenting on the Gospel of Saint John writes:
If, then, you are looking for the way by which you should go, take Christ, because he himself is the way: This is the way; walk in it…It is better to limp along the way than stride along off the way. For a man who limps along the way, even if he only makes slow progress, comes to the end of the way; but one who is off the way, the more quickly he runs, the further away is he from his goal.
Hold Fast to Christ
If you are looking for a goal, hold fast to Christ, because he himself is the truth, where we desire to be. My mouth shall reflect on the truth. If you are looking for a resting place, hold fast to Christ, because he himself is the life. Whoever finds me finds life, and receives salvation from the Lord.
Christ is and Teaches Every Truth
Therefore hold fast to Christ if you wish to be safe. You will not be able to go astray, because he is the way. He who remains with him does not wander in trackless places; he is on the right way. Moreover he cannot be deceived, because he is the truth, and he teaches every truth. And he says: For this I was born and for this I have come, to bear witness to the truth. Nor can he be disturbed, because he is both life and the giver of life. For he says: I have come that they may have life, and have it more abundantly.[i]
Let us pray with the Church the words of the Collect for the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus:
Grant, we pray, almighty God,
that we, who glory in the Heart of your beloved Son
and recall the wonders of his love for us,
may be made worthy to receive
an overflowing measure of grace
from that fount of heavenly gifts.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. [ii]
Read the entire selection from Saint Thomas Aquinas.
From the Exposition of John by Saint Thomas Aquinas | The way to come to true life
Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
[i] Saint Thomas, Aquinas. “The Way to Come to True Life.” From the Exposition of John. Week 9 Saturday – Office of Readings . Accessed June 8, 2021. http://www.liturgies.net/Liturgies/Catholic/loh/week9saturdayor.htm.
From the Exposition of John by Saint Thomas Aquinas, priest (Cap. 14, lect. 2)
[ii] “Collect.” Sacred Heart – Office of Readings. Accessed June 8, 2021. http://www.liturgies.net/Liturgies/Catholic/loh/sacredheartor.htm.
Posted for the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus | June 11, 2021
