Homily Reflection: The Sacred Heart’s Shrewdness: First Friday and the Grace to Act

 

Readings 110725 

You may have noticed… I’ve gained a little weight back.
The truth is—it’s hard to stick to a diet.
Even though I feel better when my weight is lower,
doing what I need to do… isn’t easy.
As I grow older, watching what I eat, keeping my weight down—
that would be prudent of me.

But prudence isn’t just about food.
It’s about how we live.
How we love.
How we prepare for eternity.

On this First Friday, as we open our hearts to the boundless love of Jesus,
we encounter that same issue of prudence—
but in a far more piercing way.

Jesus says: “The children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than the children of light.” (Luke 16:8)

This parable is unsettling.
Yet He’s not praising the world—He’s challenging us.
He holds up a shrewd, worldly figure—
someone who acts quickly, plans wisely, and secures his future—
and He says, “Look. He’s focused.”
Then He turns to us,
the children of light,
and asks:
Where is your zeal?
Where is your urgency for eternal things?

We have the right goal—Heaven.
We have the right resource—God’s grace.
But we often lack the right method.

We hesitate.
We delay.
We know we should pray… but we put it off.
We know we should forgive… but we resist.
We know the path of virtue…
but we choose the detour that feels easier.

This is the scandal of spiritual laziness.
We are outmaneuvered by the world—
not because it’s wiser—
but because it’s more decisive.

So what’s the answer?
The Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Prudence is the skill of navigating life toward heaven.
And this First Friday devotion to the Sacred Heart is not just an act of love—
it’s strategic.
It’s holy.

When we gaze upon His Heart—pierced, burning, faithful—
we see clearly.
We remember what matters.

And when we receive Him in Holy Communion,
we receive strength.
Strength to act.
Strength to forgive.
Strength to choose holiness—now, not later.

The First Friday grace doesn’t just soothe us.
It stirs us.
It fortifies our will.
It gives us the supernatural push
to stop postponing reconciliation,
to stop delaying prayer,
to stop waiting for the “right moment” to be holy.

Let us, the children of light, stop being spiritually dull.
Let Jesus’ parable on prudence be our motivation!

Let the love of Christ, poured out from His Sacred Heart,
call us away from spiritual laziness
and into holy decisiveness.

Let us consecrate our hearts to Christ today—
so that we may live,
choose,
and act
with the effective love of the Sacred Heart.

In the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.