The Heart That Seeks and Satisfies

“The love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. For Christ, while we were still helpless, died at the appointed time for the ungodly.” Rom. 5

The desire beneath the desire

Looking to Jesus’ most sacred heart I find myself realizing my need and his provision. There is nothing that I need he has not already provided. As I become aware of my desires before the Sacred Heart of Christ, I am invited to go deeper. The initial desire is not the real desire, there is always another layer beneath the first desire. All I need to do is ask; why do I desire this thing? The answer takes me down another layer deeper into yet another desire. I ask again; why do I want this secondary desire? And so on… The answer takes me down another layer.

Soon I arrive at the true, God-given desire that only he can fulfill. The psalmist tells us that “God will give you the desires of your heart…” The thing desired ultimately leads to the One desired. He it is who both gives and fulfills our deepest longings.

Looking for love in all the wrong places

I spend so much time looking in various places; mostly in my social media feed, for some kind of validation; some affirmation of my worth. Someone likes a post of mine and, like a drug addict, I am euphoric. I am often satisfied by those surface hungers being fed. Consequently, I rarely look any deeper to find the deepest desires of my heart.

Jesus’ Desire

Jesus has desires too. His Most Sacred Heart longs for you and me to know him and what he has done for us. He knows what it’s like to have desires that are not met. He desires our heart; our whole heart. He does not want to share our heart with the things of this world and the things we are so easily satisfied with. He knows true life comes through us meeting his Sacred Heart.

Satisfied?

Do not let yourself be satisfied so easily. Seek his heart and let his Most Sacred Heart satisfy you. And may you fully surrender your heart to satisfy his.

St Ignatius says, ask for the grace that you need. Once you identify your desire, ask for the grace you need to live into that desire. It may be intimacy with Christ. Or it may be interior freedom.

It may even be the desire to desire more of his heart. If this is the case, ask for this desire.

What does your heart truly seek today? Spend some time with this question.

Prayer

Dear Jesus,

Thank you for fully giving us your Most Sacred Heart and for inviting me into an ever deepening relationship with you. I want to fully surrender my heart to you. You know how easily I am satisfied with the things of this world; with those surface desires. Help me to go deeper; to lay aside the initial desires so that I can experience the fullness of your love. Lord, I want to be loved the way you want to love me. I want to love you the way you deserve to be loved.

Amen