Heart of Jesus, full of Goodness and Love
The heart of Jesus can be compared to the ocean of goodness and love, to a vessel so full that it will not fit a single drop.
"I am good Shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them. This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd. This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again.
This command I have received from my Father.” (Jn 10: 11 – 18) We also see a lot of goodness in people. Human goodness is a tendency to do good to others. It manifests itself in kindness, generosity, sacrifice, also in patience and in forgiving fault. So this is a whole set of virtues.
A man of good heart feels happy when he can do good. The goodness of the human heart is a precious and desirable quality. Other qualities often arouse admiration - while goodness captivates and encourages love.
This is how we understand human goodness, and what is God's goodness? Our words and concepts applied to God are only analogies, comparisons infinitely far from reality. God's goodness is immeasurable, eternal, infinite and incomprehensible to us. It reveals itself to people in the most visible way in the Person of Jesus Christ.
We can say that God is first and foremost good. Not in the sense that His goodness surpasses all other perfection, because in God everything is equally infinite. But in the sense that His goodness is most evident in our lives
In the Old Testament, God often turned out to be a God of severity. However, there are also many examples of touching kindness. In the New Testament, however, God's goodness and love are fully revealed. The Gospel is nothing but a book of God's love. In the Gospel and in the writings of the apostles, if one word expresses God's righteousness, the next ten speak of His love. God uses such pedagogy because our imperfect mind makes it difficult for us to grasp the magnitude of his love. God is so great and we are so small that we believe in His power and justice more easily. Meanwhile, everything God has done has been made out of love.
Goodness and love radiate in every deed of Jesus, in each of His miracles, most of His words. Our Lord is loving, approachable and humble. He said about himself: "I am a good shepherd" (cf. Jn 10:11); "I did not come to judge the world but to save the world" (cf. Jn 12:47). "Love one another as I have loved you" (Jn 15:12); “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (cf. Mt 5:44).
The Gospel, or the Good News, is filled with God's love revealed in Jesus Christ. Jesus' deeds, his words and life show man the greatness of kindness and love. God is infinitely good. HE is LOVE. Everything he does makes from love. He gives us his example by saying, "Love one another as I have loved you" (Jn 15:12). Jesus not only gives us love, but also teaches and calls us to love. Only love has the power to do good.
A loving heart is good. And this is the heart of Jesus. Jesus calls himself a Good Shepherd and at the same time explains what it means. It shows how someone who loves should act. In his love, Jesus goes so far as to give his life for the man he loves. This is true love - give your life for your brother. Let us thank Jesus for revealing us true love.
Jesus did the first miracle in Cana of Galilee at the request of Mary, who, being with him throughout his earthly life, knew the goodness of her Son's heart well. Jesus crossed the Palestinian land doing good. When he encountered numerous physical and moral misery, he cried, "Come to me, all who are tired and heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (cf. Mt 11:28). Jesus did not perform a miracle when a sign from heaven was asked, but he never refused to heal the sick and cleanse the lepers when he was asked to do so and when he wanted to manifest only God's love and goodness.
Jesus was good to everyone. The Gospel mentions His goodness to the apostles, whose faults he endured with great patience. He was kind to children, to a Canaanite woman and a Samaritan woman, to Magdalena and Nicodemus. Christ taught his disciples understanding and love. To the women who wept over him when he went to Calvary with the cross, he told them not to weep over him, but over themselves and over their children (cf. Jn 23:28). Jesus was always seen so good and gentle that no one was afraid of Him. The Good Savior, who passed through our earthly homeland, doing all things well, who said: "I have set an example for you to do as I did" (Jn 13:15) - help us break with our egoism and set ourselves selfless helping everyone in need.
LIVE THE WORD!
Look at Jesus' life, His goodness and love. Tell Him you want to imitate him.
Do something good for your loved ones.
Until Tomorrow
fr. george