The Catholic Defender: The Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to St. Margaret Mary Promise 7
(7) Lukewarm souls shall become fervent. This promise is a major issue with Our Lord, we see this in the book of Revelation, chapter 3:15-16, “I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth." That is a clear warning from Jesus how he feels about it. But what does Jesus do about the Lukewarm? Jesus wants to reach such a person and shake them up, get them on fire for God!
The fifteen promises of praying the Rosary will help such a lukewarm soul become alive in the Holy Spirit, no question about that, but we must act upon our yes to the Lord. Let the Virgin Mary be for us the modal for how we pick up our cross and follow the Lord. Consider 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, "According to the grace of God given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. But each one must be careful how he builds upon it, for no one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there, namely, Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, the work of each will come to light, for the Day will disclose it. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire [itself] will test the quality of each one’s work. If the work stands that someone built upon the foundation, that person will receive a wage. But if someone’s work is burned up, that one will suffer loss; the person will be saved, but only as through fire."
If your simply hoping to make it to Purgatory, you are not really serious about your faith. Purgatory will burn up the problems we dealt with, but that should not be the goal. Our hope is the eternal reward that we receive when we die or until Jesus returns at the Parousia hopefully we will hear Jesus say, "Well done good and faithful servant, enter in to the place my Father has built for you"? That should be our first goal. Many of us probably will end up with a stay in Purgatory, but that should never be our first goal. If that is your goal, you might not make it at all.
It's important to take personal self-inventory of ourselves to guard against being a "Tepid" soul, someone who lacks passion, enthusiasm, conviction, or right motivation. We are known primarily for the things we say, by the things we do, and for the things we love. If Christ is your motivation, it's going to show. You can't help it.
In trying to keep up with the Jones and dig, scratch, fight to get ahead it's easy for us to get bogged down in the mud where we let the environment shape our outcomes. Our Catholic faith is what guides us through the toughest day no matter how bad it can get. I've heard it said, "Someday everything will make perfect sense. So, for now, laugh at the confusion, smile through the tears, and keep reminding yourself that everything happens for a reason." Remember that Jesus is the reason for the season. Do not let anyone rob you of your joy.
The 7th Promise of Jesus for the Devotion to His Sacred Heart is a great reassurance of the love that God has for you, that you are not forgotten. You might be a solid faithful Catholic faithful to the Mass and living out our faith. Pope St. John Paul II beautifully lived his whole life always seeking to grow and never become stagnate. This man lived an incredible life in service to the Lord. He is a great example to follow.
The Lord wants to set us ablaze, it only takes a spark to get a fire going and how the lord want's to set us on fire with His holy glory. Jesus want's us to wake up and smell the roses. How wonderful it is once you have experienced it. The Lord's presence in your life can move mountains and take you spiritually to the high mountain tops and the valleys below. Jesus want's to help you through it all.
During the fourth apparition Our Lord appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, the "great apparition" Jesus calls for the Feast of the Sacred Heart to be celebrated yearly on the Friday following Corpus Christi. This shows the connection between the devotion of the of the Sacred Heart and the Eucharist. Jesus want's to be central in our lives in reparation for the coldness multitudes show towards Jesus infinite love and compassion.
Jesus is the Word made flesh and is our lamp unto our feet and the path that lights our way to the true Heavenly Kingdom safe from the evil one. Palms 119:105 states, "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light for my path."
