Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Owatonna, MN issued the following announcement on June 16.

Unfortunately the chip we use to record Mass did not function as we had hoped. I thought I would share a modified version of my homily on our patronal feast of the Sacred Heart.

Homily reflection for Sacred Heart, 2020

Thirty-five years ago this morning I was having breakfast with some of my seminary classmates at Beier’s Restaurant in Winona. They had come to join me for my ordination which was to take place later that day. It was the tradition in the Diocese at that time to begin the Ordination at high noon. So we were fortifying ourselves for what was ahead.

I have so many wonderful memories of that day. Many of my family and friends joined us and the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart was full. I am grateful to my classmates, Kevin Connolly and Timothy Hodapp, who shared that day with me and to Bishop Loras Watters for ordaining me to the priesthood. It has been a life filled with blessings.

Little did I know, as I stood in the sanctuary of the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, how much devotion to the Sacred Heart would be central to my life and priesthood. Twenty four of my thirty five years as a priest have been at churches dedicated to the Sacred Heart. To some degree, we priests are colored by where we serve. Not only in the life of the community but in the patrons of those parishes. We take on a special fondness or devotion to the saints and titles that give identity to the parish. That has certainly been true for me. I have a special love for St. Stanislaus Kotska, St. Francis of Assisi, Our Lady of Lourdes, St. John the Baptist (my personal patron saint and the patron of St. John’s in Mankato), St. Ignatius Loyola, St. Edward, Our Lady of Loretto, St. Casimir, Mary under the title of the Immaculate Conception, the Holy Trinity and, of course, the Sacred Heart.

Devotion to the Sacred Heart is all about God’s love for us. In our second reading, St. John says it plainly, “God is love.” The image of the Sacred Heart reminds us of the depths of the love of God for us. The love of the Father that sent His Son into the world to save us, the love of the Son that gave His life for our sake and the love of the Holy Spirit that continues to pour gifts into our hearts. St. John adds another, rather stunning, statement, “In this is love, not that we have loved God, but that He loved us...”

On the entablature above the pillars of our church are invocations from the Litany of the Sacred Heart. From where I sit in the sanctuary when I look up I am reminded that the Heart of Jesus is “aflame with love for us.” And this is what I have learned from the Sacred Heart. It has informed my preaching and it has influenced my life. As happy as I have been in my priesthood it is not always easy. When I get tired, frustrated, or discouraged I remember that God loves me. In fact, God is on fire with love for me. And God is on fire with love for all of you.

In a homily on Entering the Heart of Jesus, Blessed Basil Moreau, founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross, writes, “Come then let us all hasten into this waiting heart, no matter what the state of our soul. If we are in sin, here is the heart that received the prodigal son, pardoned the penitent Magdalene, made the apostate disciple weep repentantly, and converted a thief on the cross. If we are lukewarm, here is the source of charity in which we can renew our arms, warm our hearts and draw new strength.”

Another of the invocations on our entablature reminds us that the Heart of Jesus is patient and full of mercy. I think those two invocations capture, beautifully, the meaning of this Feast. Here, in the Sacred Heart of Jesus we ‘find rest for our souls.” God already loves us. All that is required of us is to accept his open arms and his open heart.

Original source can be found here.