Vatican City (AsiaNews) - " Letting ourselves be loved by God "is more difficult" than loving Him. This "may sound like heresy," but it is the only way to reciprocate the "tenderness" with which He loves us. This is how Pope Francis commented on today's Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus at morning Mass at Casa Santa Marta, emphasizing how Jesus loved us more than with words, through his life and his deeds.
A love which, St. Ignatius said, "manifests itself more in deeds than in words" and that is especially "more giving than receiving. Pope Francis said "these two criteria are like the pillars of true love" and the Good Shepherd above all else represents the love of God. He knows his sheep by name, "because his is not an abstract or general love: it is love towards everyone ". "A God who draws near out of love, walks with His people, and this walk comes to an unimaginable point. We could never have imagined that the same Lord would become one of us and walk with us, be present with us, present in His Church, present in the Eucharist, present in His Word, present in the poor, He is present, walking with us. And this is closeness: the shepherd close to his flock, close to his sheep, whom he knows, one by one".
"Tenderness! But the Lord loves us tenderly. The Lord knows that beautiful science of caresses, the tenderness of God. He does not love us with words. He comes close - closeness - and gives us His love with tenderness. Closeness and tenderness! The Lord loves us in these two ways, He draws near and gives all His love even in the smallest things: with tenderness. And this is a powerful love, because closeness and tenderness reveal the strength of God's love".
How can we reciprocate this love? This may sound like heresy, but it is the greatest truth! It is more difficult to let God us, than to love Him! The best way to love Him in return is to open our hearts and let Him love us. Let Him draw close to us and feel Him close to us. This is really very difficult: letting ourselves be loved by Him. And that is perhaps what we need to ask today in the Mass: 'Lord, I want to love you, but teach me the difficult science, the difficult habit to let myself be loved by you, to feel You close and feel Your tenderness ! May the Lord give us this grace. "