As we come to the first Friday of the month, the Church practises this traditional devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
It was one of the promises Jesus made to St. Margaret Mary that those who devoutly practise the devotion to His Sacred Heart on the first Friday will receive abundant blessings.
Generally what comes to our minds would be the petitions that we offer up to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and implore that He answers our needs especially when they are urgent.
Certainly that is one of the ways that Jesus blesses us, by answering our prayers and granting our needs, so that we will experience His love for us.
But on a deeper level, the devotion to the Sacred Heart leads us to contemplate the love and mercy of Jesus for us, that He has given us all that we need in life.
Over and above our needs and petitions, we must first give thanks and be grateful for His saving love.
The 1st readings reminds us that Jesus brought peace by His death on the Cross and doing so He has reconciled us to God and our sins are forgiven.
May we always give thanks with a grateful heart for such great love that Jesus has for us, and may we too forgive others just as we have been forgiven.