The Mystery of Being Chosen

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

One of the deepest desires of the human heart is to be chosen. Think about it. Every one of us knows what it feels like to be overlooked. We know the pain of rejection, exclusion, or feeling like we are not enough. We spend so much of our lives trying to prove our worth – to our families, our friends, society, and sometimes even to ourselves. That is why today’s readings for the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus are so powerful.

In the First Reading, Moses tells Israel something astonishing. God did not choose them because they were the strongest nation. He did not choose them because they were the largest, the wealthiest, or the most impressive. In fact, Moses says they were among the smallest of peoples. So why did God choose them? Because He loved them. That’s it. Not because they earned His love. Not because they deserved His love. Simply because He loved them. And thousands of years later, we still struggle to believe that. We often think God loves us because we are good. So when we fail, we wonder if He still loves us. We think God loves us because we are faithful. So when we fall into sin, we question our place in His heart.

But the Sacred Heart of Jesus tells a different story. The Sacred Heart is not a symbol of God’s love. It is a revelation of God’s love. A Heart that burns for sinners. A Heart that forgives those who crucified Him. A Heart pierced by a spear, yet still pouring out blood and water for the salvation of the world. The Sacred Heart shows us that God’s love is not a reward for our goodness. It is the source of our goodness.

St John says in today’s Second Reading, “In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that He loved us.” That changes everything. Because if God’s love depends on me being perfect, I will always be afraid. But if God’s love begins with Him, then I can stop trying to earn what has already been given. The greatest tragedy in the spiritual life is not that people sin but that many people believe their sins are greater than God’s love.

Every wound in that Sacred Heart says: “I knew your weakness, your failures and I chose you.”

And maybe that is what we need to hear today. A reminder – You are chosen.

Not because you are strong enough. Not because you are holy enough. Not because you have everything figured out. You are chosen because the Heart of Jesus has loved you from the beginning. And when that truth finally reaches our hearts, we stop living out of fear and begin living out of gratitude. We love because He first loved us.

Prayer: Sacred Heart of Jesus, so often I try to earn the love that You freely give. When I doubt my worth, remind me that I am chosen. When I fall, remind me that Your mercy is greater than my sin. Teach me to rest in Your Heart and to trust in Your love. May my heart become more like Yours – humble, merciful, and open to all. Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in You. Amen.

– Homily by Rev Fr Patrick Agbeko