Jesus gives his heart to West End.

Nothing quite catches the eye like religious iconography in unexpected places. Back in June 2019 as I was wandering down Boundary Street in West End, Brisbane I saw this Sacred Heart Candle among the bric-a brac in the long gone Ecclectica esoteric Books and Curiosities.

Today in Catholicland is called the feast of the Sacred Heart. It’s day when a couple of religious communities who have this moniker in their name gets to party like there is no tomorrow. Every Catholic building worth it’s salt has a statue or window of the Sacred Heart.

The popular image is probably a bit “out there” for many people as it depicts a Hollywood style Jesus with coiffed curls pointing to or holding his heart while staring hard at the viewer.

Behind the saccharine art work is an amazing bit of theology that says the Divine has a “bleeding heart” as those on a certain side of politics say to deride anyone with compassion. In plain language it means God is on the side of those pushed to the social margins like prisoners, refugees, migrants and so many others.

So here in the middle of West End today I find Jesus Sacred Heart staring out with Divine compassion to those on the street who may be feeling the wrath of a rugby player too keen to condemn and too slow to let his heart become sacred.