Optional Memorial of Saint Nicholas, Bishop

His heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned (Matthew 9:35).

This section in the Gospel is titled: “The Compassion of Jesus”. It is from this movement of His Sacred Heart that the Twelve are sent out on their mission: As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons (Matthew 10:7-8).

“The kingdom of God, spoken of so much in the Holy Scriptures, is the interior reign of God within. He rules over our intelligence through faith, over our heart through love, over our body by mortification of the passions.” (Saint Peter Julian Eymard, A Thought Per Day)

It is only in the mirror of the Eucharist that we will find our true identity. It is here that we will hear the truth spoken to our hearts. “You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139). It is in that truth we will find rest and in union with him that the kingdom of God will take root in our hearts.

Jesus is moved with compassion when He sees the places where our hearts are troubled, where we feel abandoned, where fear rules. He sends out an army of Eucharistic hearts to remind each one of us of our identity as beloved children of the God Most High.

The harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest (Matthew 9:37-38).

Each one of us is sent to bring Jesus’ compassionate heart to every person we encounter. This is our mission: to remind our brothers and sisters of our shared identity as beloved children of God. The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.

Let us pray:

Lord, bring your light to the darkened places in my heart, and help me carry that light to my brothers and sisters who feel troubled and abandoned. May Saint Nicholas inspire me to share my gifts with those most in need. Amen.