Reflections on the Litany of the Sacred Heart -- 32

Heart of Jesus, delight of all the saints, have mercy on us ...

Stars tumble
tthrough His fingers.
Galaxies whirl
around His throne.
Angels crowd
closer, adorning.
Saints fall down
and cry "Holy!"
Listen to the saints...
The living are blind.
Their eyes are open.
The living are deaf.
Their ears hear.
The living are dumb.
Their mouths speak.
"Holy is the Lord!"

Reflections on the Litany of the Sacred Heart -- 31

Heart of Jesus, our light and resurrection, have mercy on us ...

First the dead in Christ shall rise --
this is the promise spoken --
up out of graves, from ashes,
up from the depths of the sea,
rising from the ground's grip,
rising from the watery embrace,
up into the endless sky,
above the clouds where light
blazes from the One who waits.

Reflections on the Litany of the Sacred Heart - 30

Heart of Jesus, hope of those who die in you ... have mercy on us!

What do we hope for
when death slides over us
like cold, clear water?

What do we turn to
when the closing door leaves us
within a dark, silent room?

Who do we call on?
On one named savior,
deliverer, emmanuel.

Reflections on the Litany of the Sacred Heart - 29

Heart of Jesus, salvation of those who hope in you ... have mercy on us.

Hope
the sudden spark that flares
just as you think all light has died.

Hope
the rush of fresh air
into lungs that struggle to breathe.

Hope
the upwelling of water
in the parched desert sand.

Hope
the blare of a trumpet
and an angel's cry: Maranatha!

Reflections on the Litany of the Sacred Heart -- 28

Heart of Jesus, victim of our sins, have mercy on us ...

These days we count the cost of sin
and look around with scornful eye,
quite forgetting to look within
we shout our creed: Did anyone die?

Jesus hung upon his cross
and made his heart a sacrifice
for He knew that we were lost
and redeemed us with His life.

Oh, I who sin and make excuse
yet live to sin another day
must turn to Him and self accuse,
must kneel before his cross and pray.

Reflections on the Litany of the Sacred Heart - 27

Heart of Jesus, our peace and reconcilation, have mercy on us ...

This wicked war that drags
on  through  the centuries
blinds us. Like the shell-shocked
we come to accept hell
exploding around us.

Beaten down we stumble
around in pain, wounded,
half-starved, half-mad, half-dead,
staggering through the land
with ashes in our mouths.

But some see the Dayspring
rising in the darkness,
bringing us welcome peace,
destroying death with life.

Reflections on the Litany of the Sacred Heart - 26

Heart of Jesus, source of all consolation, have mercy on us ...

Like a wounded child flees
to his mother's arms,
I flee, my lord, unto you.

Hold me tight.
Hold me tight,
In your embrace
all things are right.

I hide in your wounds, Lord,
in perfect peace,
with perfect protection.

Hold me close.
Hold me close.
These moments with you
matter the most.

You heal me with a touch
and send me forth--
but stay at my side.

Abide with me.
Abide with me.
There is no life
outside of Thee.

Reflections on the Litany of the Sacred Heart - 25

Heart of Jesus, pierced with a lance, have mercy on us ...

You died, my Jesus,
and Satan - not content -
thrust his wicked lance
deep into your side.

He saw your wounds, Lord,
and called it victory.
Your blood and water flowed
to birth the church, your bride.

Reflections on the Litany of the Sacred Heart - 24

Heart of Jesus made obedient unto death, have mercy on us ...

Everything human in us
wants to cry out "No!"
Time for the trumpet to sound,
the calvary to arrive,
time for the doctor to haul out
his miracle zapper
and fix those paddles right over
the hole in our Lord's heart.

Everything human in Him
obeyed the Father's will,
bid the angels to only watch,
yielded up his spirit,
and thus we are redeemed.

Reflections on the Litany of the Sacred Heart -- 23

Heart of Jesus, bruised for our sins, have mercy on us ...

A heavy blow,
inner bleeding,
a tender spot.
Memory awakens
at the lightest touch.
We bruise your heart.
You remember us
with healing love.

Reflections on the Litany of the Sacred Heart -- 22

Heart of Jesus which suffered rejection for our sake, have mercy on us ...

We rejected our God,
covered his face with spit,
hit him with our fists,
struck him with a rod.

We rejected our Lord
with scornful insults,
with cruel mockery,
cutting like a sword.

We rejected our king
although he loved us still.
He prayed "Forgive"
under each sharp sting

Reflections on the Litany of the Sacred Heart - 21

Heart of Jesus, atonement for our sins, have mercy on us ...

Who can atone
for the evil I've done?
Sins that pile up
and blot out the sun.
In shadow I stand
 mourning lost innocence.
A broken life
twisted and stripped of sense.
He stoops to heal
with gentle hands that bleed.
The holy lamb
has met my need.

Reflections on the Litany of the Sacred Heart - 20

Heart of Jesus, fountain of life and holiness, have mercy on us ...

Come and sit by the fountain,
listen to the water flow,
pure water in abundance,
for whoever will bend low --

Bend to drink this crystal water,
drink until your thirsting ends,
bend to cup it in your hands 
offer refreshing to your friends.

Pass on His life with your giving
from the fountain of His side.
Wash your soul in love unstinting,
bathe in the fountain and abide.

Reflections on the Litany of the Sacred Heart - 19

Heart of Jesus, generous to all who call on you, have mercy on us ...


He holds out pierced hands
palms up,extended to you,
love overflowing.

Reflections on the Litany of the Sacred Heart - 18

Heart of Jesus patient and abounding in mercy, have mercy on us ...


Patience -
to sit through lonely nights
to hold a trembling hand
to bend your head to listen
-simple human kindness


Mercy -
to bind up the wounded
to feed the starving
to forgive the humble sinner
- simple human loving


Patience -
to call a sinner home
every day, every hour, every moment
of a cruel, evil life
- holy, divine kindness


Mercy -
to hear their muttered prayer
spoken with their last breath
and grant them grace
-- holy, divine loving

Reflections on the Litany of the Sacred Heart - 17

Heart of Jesus, deepest desire of the human heart, have mercy on us ...


Some say they long for shining gold,
some want beauty's kiss,
health is precious to the old,
and drugs provide deceptive bliss.


All the gifts that life can offer
and our hearts are empty still.
Earth has nothing it can proffer,
no magic wand, no miracle pill.


For our hearts are ever breaking
without the balm that He provides.
Only love can ease the aching,
perfect love where Christ abides.

Reflections on the Litany of the Sacred Heart - 16

Heart of Jesus whose fullness we have all received, have mercy on us ...


All created things long to be filled -
the depths of the Earth drink rain and become oceans,
air settles between the mountains and spills above, enveloping the world,
stars spin out from the center, fleeing across space to fill infinity -
Only the human soul stayed empty -
until You came, precious Lord.

Reflections on the Litany of the Sacred Heart -15

Heart of Jesus, in which the Father is well pleased, have mercy on us ...


Pearl of greatest price,
perfection beyond compare,
haven of the homeless,
listener to our prayer.


Flawless source of truth,
healer of our pains,
shepherd of our souls,
king who ever reigns.


Praises sung forever
and yet scarce begun,
could not yet express
the beauty of the Son.

Reflections on the Litany of the Sacred Heart - 14

Heart of Jesus in which dwells all the fullness of the Godhead, have mercy on us ...


A gentle human heart
A sacred love divine -
undreamed of purest mixture,
O heavenly, precious wine.


My thirsty soul drinks deep
from a cup that's ever full.
His open side feeds
His people here below.


No hunger can surpass
His grace beyond compare.
His fullness fills us up
and gives us peace to share.

Reflections on the Litany of the Sacred Heart - 13

Heart of Jesus in which are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, have mercy on us ...


In ancient tales winged dragons guard their gold
and threaten with flame any who dare take hold.


Pirates in their cruel ships steal upon the sea,
and drown their victims without sympathy.


Kings hoard their treasures with wanton greed
and deny even the food their people need.


Jesus enthroned in heaven opens wide his embrace
and from his heart true treasure pours in endless grace.