Photo by Dianne Anzai of Sid Dickens’ Artwork

“Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8).

My wife and I were headed to an evening picnic. We stopped along the way at our beloved Aladdin’s, a Middle Eastern bakery. They make delicious meat and cheese pies—one of Ottawa’s best kept secrets. Nearby, we noticed a homeless man begging for money. I decided to buy an extra meat pie for him, but quickly realised I was too shy to help this man. He walked up and down a busy street. Everyone stopped at the traffic lights would’ve seen my act of charity. Yet, God came through and provided! As I crossed the intersection to our parked car, the man walked over to the gas station behind us. I seized the opportunity and gave him the meat pie. He took it with great gratitude, exclaiming, “I am so hungry, thank you!” I did a small act of charity that day.

God gave us the capacity to love like Him. We can praise God’s love in a special way this Friday through the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart. On this day, we celebrate the mystery of God’s love and His actual Heart. He loves all humanity, rich and poor alike, those who love Aladdin’s and those who do not. It’s a time to remember that God loves us no matter what. Some days we’re able to do good, other days not so much. Either way, we are deeply loved because we are His children, created in His image. No misery or fault will stop God from loving us. It comes down to this: we are miserable sinners and God loves us. It’s a gritty love. The Sacred Heart’s artwork is represented with a crown of thorns and a bloody piercing to reflect this truth.

Love is wounded for its beloved. God’s chosen disciples had their moments. God selected Saint Peter, an ordinary man with good qualities and many faults to lead His disciples. On a better day Saint Peter healed and shared the Good News. On a harder day he denied the Lord three times and ran away. Regardless, God loved Saint Peter with a precious love. Jesus took initiative and restored his relationship (see John 21:15-17). It is no wonder that Saint Peter later wrote with great conviction, “love covers a multitude of sins.” This is not an excuse to sin, but rather a reason to begin again in charity. Saint Peter’s experience is also our experience. The Heart of Jesus thirsts and hungers for our love—no matter how ugly, messy, or shameful we might appear. Let us not despair when we fall, for sin and weakness don’t define us. We can overcome sin with love.