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But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they
did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his
side, and immediately blood and water flowed out. John
19:33–34
John’s Gospel is filled with deep spiritual imagery and symbolism.
It is clear that this imagery and symbolism was divinely inspired
so as to give us spiritual food for reflection and meditation. One
such image is given to us today as we celebrate the Solemnity of
the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
As Jesus and the two criminals on either side of Him hung upon
their crosses, the soldiers came to hasten their deaths by breaking
their legs to cause them to more quickly suffocate. But when they
came to Jesus, He had already died. So one of the soldiers,
traditionally known as Longinus, thrust his spear into Jesus’ side,
and blood and water flowed forth. Some traditions identify Longinus
with the centurion who cried out after Jesus’ death, “Truly, this
was the Son of God!” (See Matthew 27:54.) Other traditions state
that he converted at that moment, making him the first convert to
Christianity. And still other traditions state that Longinus could
not see well, and the blood and water from Jesus’ side poured upon
his eyes, healing him. Regardless of whether these traditions are
true, we know that Jesus’ side was pierced and blood and water
flowed forth.
The symbolism of this act was more than a mere human symbol. It was
an instrument of the profound spiritual reality that was taking
place at that moment. As Jesus’ Sacred Heart was pierced, the blood
and water that poured forth was the new sacramental life of the
Church. The Blood was the Most Holy Eucharist and the Water was the
gift of Baptism. And when Jesus had previously “breathed His last”
and “handed over His Spirit,” the Sacrament of Confirmation was
bestowed.
When we celebrate those Sacraments today, it is easy to see them as
mere symbols of what we partake in. But in our Christian Tradition,
the Sacraments are so much more. The symbol is also the reality. It
is the instrument of what it symbolizes. Therefore, every time we
witness a Baptism or partake in the Holy Eucharist, we are
mystically present with Longinus, receiving the grace and mercy of
our redemption, pouring forth from Jesus’ wounded side, so as to
heal us and make us whole.
The human heart is, physically speaking, a bodily organ responsible
for pumping blood throughout. But from a spiritual perspective,
given that we are both body and soul, the human heart is also the
source of our life. Without it, we physically and spiritually die.
So it is with the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It was not only a physical
heart that was physically pierced by the lance long ago. It is now
also the source of our ongoing spiritual life, and, without Jesus’
Sacred Heart of Mercy, we will die in our sins.
Reflect, today, upon the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. See His Heart
as the ongoing source of your new life in grace. Understand that
His Heart is more than a symbol of His grace and mercy, it is the
spiritual source and the font of that mercy. Prayerfully place
yourself before His Cross, this day, and allow the blood and water,
flowing from His wounded side, to cover you so that you, too, may
believe.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, You poured out upon the world the
love and mercy of Your transforming grace through the instrument of
the blood and water pouring forth from Your wounded side. Help me
to gaze upon this font of mercy and to be covered with it through
the gift of the Sacraments. May I always be open to all that You
wish to bestow upon me by these precious and transforming
instruments of Your love. Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
Jesus, I trust in You.
Image: Behold the Pierced One! by Lawrence OP, license CC
BY-NC-ND 2.0.
Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.com
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