An Hour With Our Lord
Have
you ever heard the story of a man who lived alone and his town was beginning to
flood. Everyone was being evacuated. As
the water rose this man insisted on staying in his home because God would save
him. When the water got as high as his
2nd floor window people in a boat came by urging him to get in, again he
insisted that God would save him. Not
long after that he had to climb to his roof to keep from drowning. A rescue helicopter flew above him insisting
he get in. He would not budge-God would
surely not forsake him. The next thing
he knew he was in Heaven and in front of God.
Upon seeing God the man asked God why He did not save him. God replied that He had sent a boat and a
helicopter to rescue him but he refused them.
Do
you ever felt like you are drowning under the weight of life’s circumstances
and you find yourself looking for some kind of sign from God to help you? Perhaps you have too much on your plate and
you are so overwhelmed with responsibility you don’t know where to start. Or
perhaps you have received news that someone you love or you yourself have been
diagnosed with a terminal illness and you are looking for answers and peace for
your broken heart.
Maybe
the everyday stresses of work, kids, bills, responsibilities have worn you down
to your last nerve OR you have received some wonderful news and you cannot find
anyone to share it with.
What
if I told you that there is a place you can go to unburden yourself, to become
refreshed, to receive good counsel and be comforted-it costs you nothing, no
insurance required, but is of infinite value. The answer to any need you may
have is right here at this Church.
It
is our Lord in the Eucharist. Jesus told
His disciples that He is the Bread of Life and that He would be with us until
the end of time. Not in some
metaphysical way, but really, substantially.
We all understand that God is everywhere, but do we remember that He is
here with us body, blood, soul and divinity at every Mass. The bread and wine are consecrated and
transformed into Jesus’ body, blood, soul and divinity-And it remains Jesus
forever. He is kept in the Tabernacle
where we can visit Him anytime, BUT the Church also provides special times for
the Adoration of Jesus. The Host is
placed in a Monstrance and set here on the alter for all to come and visit
Him.
It
was Jesus who asked His disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane to be with Him for 1 hour---1 hour that was
all. Our Church provides the means for
us to be with Him for THAT hour in an extraordinary way-through Adoration. If
you have never taken time to sit and be with our Lord in this way I urge you, I
challenge you to do this. Once you have
spent time in Adoration you will want to go again and again.
He
will transform you in ways you never thought possible. Do not let this
opportunity pass you by. Accept His
invitation to spend just 1 hour with Him-it is our Lord asking you.
If
you are not sure what Adoration is like, I will tell you. It is as simple as
sitting and looking at Jesus in the Monstrance. That’s all you have to do. You
can pray, read or just listen. It is
your hour with Him. You will notice a
peace, like a burden has been lifted.
You will be rejuvenated, happy, and joyful. This hour will begin a journey of
drawing you ever closer to our Lord and will strengthen you spiritually. This is a great time to start since Lent
begins in less than two weeks. Spending time in Adoration will help you prepare
for Lent.
Blessed
John Paul II spent countless hours in Adoration, Pope Benedict has said the we
are currently witnessing a “springtime in Eucharistic Adoration” and Archbishop
Fulton Sheen always prayed for an hour before the Blessed Sacrament before he
hosted his weekly program. Countless
saints, and current people of all walks of life spend time before Jesus
regularly. This is a great opportunity
for you to find out what these people
already know. Who knows Adoration may be
the boat or helicopter that God is sending you.
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