It's a glorious sunny day, and I'm inside. I'm sitting in adoration before my Lord Jesus, Who is exposed in eucharistic splendor. The weather is balmy outside, but inside the atmosphere is heavenly. In this place of intimacy before the real presence of Jesus, many come to believe in Jesus (see Jn 10:42). In this place, worshipers "realize what it means that the Father is in [Jesus] and [Jesus] in Him" (Jn 10:38). In this place, the climate is perfect for realizing that Jesus is God.
In eucharistic adoration, we are far more blessed than those who actually saw Jesus while He walked the earth (see Mt 13:16). The Jews in today's Gospel saw Jesus personally, and even saw the miracles He performed (Jn 10:38), but all they could see was that, in their eyes, Jesus was "only a man" (Jn 10:33). In two days, we will remember the crowds who saw Jesus enter Jerusalem as King, yet within a week they shouted, "Crucify Him!" (Mt 27:22)
Jesus once commented that those who believe in Him without seeing would be blessed (Jn 20:29). Yet in His mercy, He still provides a way for us to gaze upon Him two thousand years after He walked the earth (2 Cor 3:18). Therefore, "fix your eyes on" the eucharistic Jesus (Heb 3:1). Next week, in the holiest week of the Church Year, visit Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. In this place of believing, let Him fill you with "eucharistic amazement" (Ecclesia de Eucharistia, Pope John Paul II, 6).
| PRAYER: | Lord, "who would believe what we have" seen? (Is 53:1) May Catholics never consider Your eucharistic presence "ordinary" (Heb 10:29). |
| PROMISE: | "The Lord is with me, like a mighty Champion." –Jer 20:11 |
| PRAISE: | Jose led four co-workers to Jesus. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College