Daily Reflection Thursday of the Second Week of Lent

In his recent letter Dilexit Nos about the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Pope Francis reminds us that the heart is the core of who we are. It’s where our real intentions live — the unfiltered truth about ourselves. Our hearts are made by Love and for love. But that love isn’t just about how we feel or the prayers we say — it shows up in what we do (DN 33). The real danger isn’t feeling nothing — it’s choosing not to care. That’s the heart of sin in a world that’s, as Pope Francis puts it, “losing its heart” (DN 22).



Take the Rich Man in Luke’s Gospel. His downfall wasn’t some dramatic evil — it was lack of heart. He had everything he needed and more, yet he ignored Lazarus, the poor man sitting at his gate. Despite countless reminders from the prophets to care for the vulnerable — the widow, the orphan, the outsider — he just… didn’t. His heart had turned away from God because he failed to love the person right in front of him.



We’re well into the second week of Lent now. That Ash Wednesday energy might be starting to fade, along with our commitment to fasting, prayer, and generosity. But let’s not lose sight of the core message from that first day: “Rend your hearts, not your garments.” What’s getting in the way of receiving Christ’s love more fully? What do I need to release? Who’s the Lazarus at my door that I’ve been overlooking? And how am I being called to reflect the Sacred Heart of Jesus — especially to the suffering and the forgotten

This Lent, maybe the real invitation is simple: Don’t just feel love — live it.