Ijournal entry 053016 #22. May, Month of the Blessed Mother Mary. Happy Anniversary. Maxim by Francisco Asuna. Quotes from Blessed Mother Teresa, St. Louis de Montfort, and Blessed Margaret Ebner. "Get into God's Flow", by Fr. James Coles. "That Awkward Moment When You Realize Someone’s Loving You but You’re Not Paying Attention", by Lily Wilson. Eucharist - The End of the Beginning", video presentation by Matt Maher.
"Seek refuge in Mary because she is the city of refuge. We know that Moses set up three cities of refuge for anyone who inadvertently killed his neighbor. Now the Lord has established a refuge of mercy, Mary, even for those who deliberately commit evil. Mary provides shelter and strength for the sinner". By Saint Anthony of Padua, Doctor of the Church
"Seek this communion through whatever means possible, the soul must be ever watchful, not resting but fixing it's heart only on God". By Francisco Asuna
MTA= The time for slumbering and sleeping spiritually is past.
MTA= The time for slumbering and sleeping spiritually is past.
To snooze is to loose, with so many distractions, pulling us away from residing in the center of our heart with our God, is a travesty leading to a disaster. Spiritual bankruptcy is definitely a disaster. Yes, it's the "do or die" mentality or "do what you have to do" attitude that is necessary for accomplishing that goal of spiritual intimacy. It's work is to rest in the Lord, vigilant to the movement of the Holy Spirit without cease.
🔴 "I worry some of you still have not really met Jesus—one to one—you and Jesus alone. We may spend time in the chapel—but have you seen with the eyes of your soul how He looks at you with love? Do you really know the living Jesus—not from books but from being with Him in your heart? Have you heard the loving words He speaks to you? Ask for the grace; He is longing to give it. Until you can hear Jesus in the silence of your own heart, you will not be able to hear Him saying 'I Thirst' in the hearts of the poor. Never give up this daily intimate contact with Jesus as the real living person—not just the idea." By Blessed Mother Teresa
⚫️ HAIL MARY, beloved Daughter of the eternal Father. Hail Mary, wonderful Mother of the Son. Hail Mary, faithful Spouse of the Holy Spirit. Hail Mary, my dear Mother, my loving Lady, my powerful Queen. You are all mine through your mercy, and I am all yours. Take away from me all that may be displeasing to God. Cultivate in me everything that is pleasing to you. May the light of your faith dispel the darkness of my mind, your deep humility take the place of my pride; your continual sight of God fill my memory with his presence; the fire of the charity of your heart inflame the lukewarmness of my own heart; your virtues take the place of my sins; your merits be my enrichment and make up for all that is wanting in me before God. My beloved Mother, grant that I may have no other spirit but your spirit, to know Jesus Christ and His divine will and to praise and glorify the Lord; that I may love God with burning love like yours". By St. Louis de Montfort
🔵 "This is the natural virtue of the Lord: to whomever He gives sorrow and pain, He then comforts. Whomever He afflicts, He then makes glad." By Blessed Margaret Ebner
⚫️ HAIL MARY, beloved Daughter of the eternal Father. Hail Mary, wonderful Mother of the Son. Hail Mary, faithful Spouse of the Holy Spirit. Hail Mary, my dear Mother, my loving Lady, my powerful Queen. You are all mine through your mercy, and I am all yours. Take away from me all that may be displeasing to God. Cultivate in me everything that is pleasing to you. May the light of your faith dispel the darkness of my mind, your deep humility take the place of my pride; your continual sight of God fill my memory with his presence; the fire of the charity of your heart inflame the lukewarmness of my own heart; your virtues take the place of my sins; your merits be my enrichment and make up for all that is wanting in me before God. My beloved Mother, grant that I may have no other spirit but your spirit, to know Jesus Christ and His divine will and to praise and glorify the Lord; that I may love God with burning love like yours". By St. Louis de Montfort
🔵 "This is the natural virtue of the Lord: to whomever He gives sorrow and pain, He then comforts. Whomever He afflicts, He then makes glad." By Blessed Margaret Ebner
Waking up one morning, what came to my mind was to reflect on the nature of Jesus as a real, real, person. We see and concentrate on His Divine nature as God most often, but sometimes we may negate the emphasis on Jesus as a real, real, person, with flesh & blood, like us in every way but sin. Simply put, the agenda was being set by the Holy Spirit to meditate on scripture. The book turned out to be Hebrews.
It seems the goal of this exercise is to encourage my focus for an intended purpose: when my focus will equally encompass both natures of Jesus, the human and the Divine, seeing clearly the God and the Man, my behavior will change towards Him. If what is good and wholesome is desired by me, Jesus desires the same thing as well. For instance, who likes to be ignored, disrespected, and abandoned, etc. Don't we all like attention, gifts, hugs, kisses, support, etc., well Jesus would love to be the apple of our eyes and receive real human treatment also.
There is a great tendency for us to apply negative human attributes to God in an heartbeat. For instance if our own parent was distance and harsh, we may very well relate to God in that manner. If we have dealt with unforgiving people, we may assume God is the same, and draw back from Him. In our spiritual walk, it is time to flip the coin and anticipate the needs of Jesus, and respond in a positive light. If you are doing this already doing this, kudos to you. Sending caresses that will thrill takes shape in the form of our sensitivity to His sensitivity.
What set the stage for all of this was probably something said recently by Fr. Josh at this years CCRNO conference. He mentioned that the heart of Jesus aches to give us nourishment, which is rejected at times. This one statement led me to see the need for seeing Jesus in the light of the real person that He truly is.
An incident that happened with a friend after this meditation,
demonstrates that if we really were cognizant of that fact that good attributes of human nature magnified in Jesus, our actions would dramatically change. For instance one day we were parking in one church lot, and walking to another near by church, where parking is scarce, to attend a mission. After getting out of the car, my suggestion was for us to stop in and say a quick hello to Jesus before walking to the other church. She looked, then a little hesitatingly agreed to come. Perfect was the timing to share my morning meditation. The example used, centered around our behavior towards a best friend. The way we would treat a real friend, one we loved and valued, would be not to miss an opportunity to say hello if we were parking right in front of their house. If it was our best friend, we would be so delighted and raring to see them, if just for a minute. Imagine if it involved newlyweds, a new baby, etc. how excitement would reign. It would disappoint or sadden us to be hindered from taking a moment to see someone we adore, being that we are just a few steps away.
That analogy being applied to Jesus, why pass up saying hello to Jesus when we can take a moment to caress Him with a social acknowledgement. We are not realizing that in His humanity, He wishes we would drop by for a moment and give Him a bit of attention. He longs for those TLC moments. Shouldn't it ache our heart like it does His to see Him abandoned and lonely in the tabernacle?
Let us not just talk about His Eucharistic presence, and believe with the mind, but let us most certainly believe with our whole heart and see His human side. Doing so will help us treat Him differently. Talking, chewing gum, dunking drinks and water in church will definitely not be on our radar while we are in His house, the church or chapel. Maybe someone feels differently or the same, just my two cents in the pot.
This meditative journey is continuing as this entry is being prepared. The end of the road, less than 12 hours before hitting cyber space, finds me face to face:'Ecce Homo' (Behold the Man), by Antonio Ciseri
There is a great tendency for us to apply negative human attributes to God in an heartbeat. For instance if our own parent was distance and harsh, we may very well relate to God in that manner. If we have dealt with unforgiving people, we may assume God is the same, and draw back from Him. In our spiritual walk, it is time to flip the coin and anticipate the needs of Jesus, and respond in a positive light. If you are doing this already doing this, kudos to you. Sending caresses that will thrill takes shape in the form of our sensitivity to His sensitivity.
What set the stage for all of this was probably something said recently by Fr. Josh at this years CCRNO conference. He mentioned that the heart of Jesus aches to give us nourishment, which is rejected at times. This one statement led me to see the need for seeing Jesus in the light of the real person that He truly is.
An incident that happened with a friend after this meditation,
demonstrates that if we really were cognizant of that fact that good attributes of human nature magnified in Jesus, our actions would dramatically change. For instance one day we were parking in one church lot, and walking to another near by church, where parking is scarce, to attend a mission. After getting out of the car, my suggestion was for us to stop in and say a quick hello to Jesus before walking to the other church. She looked, then a little hesitatingly agreed to come. Perfect was the timing to share my morning meditation. The example used, centered around our behavior towards a best friend. The way we would treat a real friend, one we loved and valued, would be not to miss an opportunity to say hello if we were parking right in front of their house. If it was our best friend, we would be so delighted and raring to see them, if just for a minute. Imagine if it involved newlyweds, a new baby, etc. how excitement would reign. It would disappoint or sadden us to be hindered from taking a moment to see someone we adore, being that we are just a few steps away.
That analogy being applied to Jesus, why pass up saying hello to Jesus when we can take a moment to caress Him with a social acknowledgement. We are not realizing that in His humanity, He wishes we would drop by for a moment and give Him a bit of attention. He longs for those TLC moments. Shouldn't it ache our heart like it does His to see Him abandoned and lonely in the tabernacle?
Let us not just talk about His Eucharistic presence, and believe with the mind, but let us most certainly believe with our whole heart and see His human side. Doing so will help us treat Him differently. Talking, chewing gum, dunking drinks and water in church will definitely not be on our radar while we are in His house, the church or chapel. Maybe someone feels differently or the same, just my two cents in the pot.
This meditative journey is continuing as this entry is being prepared. The end of the road, less than 12 hours before hitting cyber space, finds me face to face:'Ecce Homo' (Behold the Man), by Antonio Ciseri
#1. As is seen in the picture, no one is really focusing on Jesus, as would translate to me that we are at times, never really be holding the man. We see, we know, but in a mindless way. Lord help me to truly "Behold the man, as this will serve to transform my behavior, resulting in an enhanced spiritual life.
Out of sixteen paintings, the next two are second and third place runner ups to my favorite above.
Out of sixteen paintings, the next two are second and third place runner ups to my favorite above.
Link to the Ecce Homo paintings by various artists:
http://www.jesus-story.net/painting_christ_pilate.htm
Today celebrating a four year anniversary, married to the Lord on May 30th, 2012. One day will journal the experience that occurred on that date. Don't get up in arms, it wasn't a mystical marriage, not on that level "YET", but it was indeed an experience that God confirmed. Shouldn't all of us be up to reaching the highest levels in the spiritual life? What we can't accomplish, we desire. What we ask, God Himself we do for us what we can't do for ourselves.
My anniversary gift was perfect. Maggie recently visited the Holy Land and my request was for a tear flask. She said the guide said that it was the first time for that request. Finally she was able to purchase two small ones. It was shocking to see two wrapped up in the gift bag, but she immediately said, one for each eye. It was a desire of my heart to have one for a long time, and finally the perfect gift, at just the right to time, two days before the anniversary. She was to give it to me last week, but that did not work out. Found just the right spot to place them over the fireplace.
http://www.jesus-story.net/painting_christ_pilate.htm
Today celebrating a four year anniversary, married to the Lord on May 30th, 2012. One day will journal the experience that occurred on that date. Don't get up in arms, it wasn't a mystical marriage, not on that level "YET", but it was indeed an experience that God confirmed. Shouldn't all of us be up to reaching the highest levels in the spiritual life? What we can't accomplish, we desire. What we ask, God Himself we do for us what we can't do for ourselves.
My anniversary gift was perfect. Maggie recently visited the Holy Land and my request was for a tear flask. She said the guide said that it was the first time for that request. Finally she was able to purchase two small ones. It was shocking to see two wrapped up in the gift bag, but she immediately said, one for each eye. It was a desire of my heart to have one for a long time, and finally the perfect gift, at just the right to time, two days before the anniversary. She was to give it to me last week, but that did not work out. Found just the right spot to place them over the fireplace.
Love My Jesus, may all my actions begin to prove that more and more. A poor spiritual wife, but have great desires for doing the Lord proud. Very sure, many amens from all who feel the same.
"Get into God's Flow" by Fr. James Coles
https://frjamescoles.wordpress.com/2010/12/03/the-new-rule-is-get-into-god’s-flow/
Excerpts:
"The epistle reading from a very short letter that St. Paul wrote to the Church in Galatia is one of the most incredible things he ever wrote and I know that is saying a lot since we credit most of the New Testament to him. My biblical studies professor from seminary, who was also named Paul, would smile and call St. Paul, “The Other Paul.” Funny, that is probably exactly how St. Paul refers to my biblical studies professor. But that is a story for another day. Bible commentaries say things like this about Galatians, “It is the most Pauline of the Pauline writings.” Sounds good to me. Here it is:
Brethren, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us have no self-conceit, no provoking of one another, no envy of one another. Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Look to yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
https://frjamescoles.wordpress.com/2010/12/03/the-new-rule-is-get-into-god’s-flow/
Excerpts:
"The epistle reading from a very short letter that St. Paul wrote to the Church in Galatia is one of the most incredible things he ever wrote and I know that is saying a lot since we credit most of the New Testament to him. My biblical studies professor from seminary, who was also named Paul, would smile and call St. Paul, “The Other Paul.” Funny, that is probably exactly how St. Paul refers to my biblical studies professor. But that is a story for another day. Bible commentaries say things like this about Galatians, “It is the most Pauline of the Pauline writings.” Sounds good to me. Here it is:
Brethren, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us have no self-conceit, no provoking of one another, no envy of one another. Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Look to yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 5:22-6:2 "In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, Now those who belong to Christ [Jesus] have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires. Now those who belong to Christ [Jesus] have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit. Let us not be conceited, provoking one another, envious of one another. Brothers, even if a person is caught in some transgression, you who are spiritual should correct that one in a gentle spirit, looking to yourself, so that you also may not be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so you will fulfill the law of Christ". |
Just prior to that reading above, St. Paul has recited a list of the desires of the flesh that are against the desires of the Spirit and hinder us from being led by the Spirit; “fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing and the like.” St. Paul warns us that if we do these things we will not inherit the kingdom of God. Then he turns his attention away from acts of the flesh to what we have to combat those temptations; fruit of the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Live by the Spirit. Walk by the Spirit. Be guided by the Spirit. I like how St. Paul asks us to not only believe it but to act on our belief. Man, that’s good! Under the influence of the indwelling Holy Spirit the human person is changed. St. Paul is basically arguing for a change, a reorientation of the entire person to God – not merely a psychological awareness. St. Paul argues that our nature, our very existence and reality is changed if we are guided by the Spirit. We have moved from being under the Mosaic law to, as he said to the Corinthians, “ennomos Christou” Greek for under the law of Christ, the law of the Spirit of Life.
Live by the Spirit. Walk by the Spirit. Be guided by the Spirit. I like how St. Paul asks us to not only believe it but to act on our belief. Man, that’s good! Under the influence of the indwelling Holy Spirit the human person is changed. St. Paul is basically arguing for a change, a reorientation of the entire person to God – not merely a psychological awareness. St. Paul argues that our nature, our very existence and reality is changed if we are guided by the Spirit. We have moved from being under the Mosaic law to, as he said to the Corinthians, “ennomos Christou” Greek for under the law of Christ, the law of the Spirit of Life.
To live, walk and be guided by the Holy Spirit is to get into the flow, God’s flow.
"That Awkward Moment When You Realize Someone’s Loving You but You’re Not Paying Attention", by Lily Wilson
Info from this site: http://www.veilsbylily.com/that-awkward-moment-when-you-realize-someones-loving-you-but-youre-not-paying-attention/
"Do you stay with Jesus? I mean literally; do you stay with Him? After every Mass, the living source of merciful love, who alone can satisfy your every longing, is inside of you and deeply united to you. He is closer to you then than at any other time during your earthly life. So, do you stay with Him?
I've been thinking about how many of us, having received Jesus in the Eucharist, leave immediately after Mass. This seems to makes sense since at that point we have been dismissed and told, "Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord." Instead of going, though, maybe we should wait. I think about how amazing it is that the same Jesus who thirsts for me is inside my very being at that moment. He is truly there, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity, the living furnace of merciful love. He is there, waiting for me to let Him love me. It’s like that awkward moment when you realize, Someone’s loving me but I’m not paying attention. I have often complained to God that I don't feel loved. Yet, the ONE person who loves me more than anyone else, actually unites Himself with me intimately and truly at every Holy Communion. How could I not spare a few minutes to be with Him in a reciprocal exchange of love?
A lot of us beat ourselves up about our sins. And yet, we allow distraction to separate us from the ONE person who actually longs to consume our brokenness. The flame of His love is there, ready to devour all of our anxieties; to make us new. He just asks for a little time to sit with Him and let Him do His work deep within us. So it's true. We're not paying attention. Distraction does often hinder us from letting Jesus, present in the Host, transform us into little Christs. Maybe we have this idea that the Eucharist is some kind of magic potion that will have an effect on us no matter what we do. That’s not true, though, because the Eucharist is a Person; a Person who loves us deeply and who wants a relationship with us. When a person we love is with us, we don't just ignore them. We give them our full attention. We listen when they are speaking, and they listen when we are speaking. We strive for intimacy. I think it’s amazing that after we receive Jesus in Holy Communion, we have the opportunity to completely bask in His merciful love for about 15 minutes. We have the chance to be completely immersed in the very love that we long for and in the mercy that we so desperately need. As Jesus told St. Faustina, “I am Love and Mercy itself!”1 Those are precious minutes, and it is during this time that we can best allow God to pour out on us what St. Therese of Lisieux called His “waves of infinite tenderness.”
It would be worthy to reflect on how Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity always stay after Mass. They recite a series of prayers together. Their time of prayer and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is so important that even in dire situations, Mother Teresa would not allow her Sisters to dispense with them. Fr. Leo Maasburg relates a particular incident:
In 1972 when a flood struck Bangladesh, Mother Teresa immediately sent her Sisters there to help out. The needs were enormous, and the work demanded superhuman efforts on the part of the Sisters. So they were asked if they would make an exception and not interrupt their work for their prayer sessions. Mother Teresa decided against it: "No, the Sisters will come home for Adoration and Holy Mass." Many of the relief workers who had responded to the catastrophic flood did not understand, but for Mother Teresa it was clear that the Sisters' strength dries up if they are not nourished daily by Mass and their Adoration of the Holy Eucharist.
One beautiful testimony to the life-changing reality of the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist happened the night St. John Paul II died. It was the night before Divine Mercy Sunday 2005. Fr. Michael Gaitley describes it:
[Then-Archbishop Stanislaw] Dziwisz reports that on the night of April 2, as John Paul was nearing his death, he, Dziwisz, suddenly felt a strong imperative in his heart, telling him to celebrate Mass right away. Obediently, Dziwisz began to set up for Mass right then and there in John Paul's room, by his bedside. As he was setting up for Mass, Dziwisz realized that it was well after sundown on a Saturday, and so he set up the vigil Mass for the Sunday, which of course, was the Sunday of Divine Mercy. Dziwisz celebrated the Mass as the Pope was going in and out of consciousness. At the time of Communion, John Paul was able to receive the Eucharist, doing so through a droplet of the Precious Blood. Less than half an hour after receiving the Lord, John Paul went home to his eternal reward. As Pope Benedict XVI would later describe it, John Paul went to the Father, "in the arms of mercy." (Emphasis mine)
Without a doubt, those minutes after Holy Communion, when the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist is within us, are the most precious minutes we will spend on this earth. In those minutes, we are “in the arms of mercy.” Life moves quickly, but mostly because we live distracted. Let's not waste those precious minutes when we can sit with Jesus. There may be instant anxiety at the thought of giving up more time, but the Lord says,
Info from this site: http://www.veilsbylily.com/that-awkward-moment-when-you-realize-someones-loving-you-but-youre-not-paying-attention/
"Do you stay with Jesus? I mean literally; do you stay with Him? After every Mass, the living source of merciful love, who alone can satisfy your every longing, is inside of you and deeply united to you. He is closer to you then than at any other time during your earthly life. So, do you stay with Him?
I've been thinking about how many of us, having received Jesus in the Eucharist, leave immediately after Mass. This seems to makes sense since at that point we have been dismissed and told, "Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord." Instead of going, though, maybe we should wait. I think about how amazing it is that the same Jesus who thirsts for me is inside my very being at that moment. He is truly there, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity, the living furnace of merciful love. He is there, waiting for me to let Him love me. It’s like that awkward moment when you realize, Someone’s loving me but I’m not paying attention. I have often complained to God that I don't feel loved. Yet, the ONE person who loves me more than anyone else, actually unites Himself with me intimately and truly at every Holy Communion. How could I not spare a few minutes to be with Him in a reciprocal exchange of love?
A lot of us beat ourselves up about our sins. And yet, we allow distraction to separate us from the ONE person who actually longs to consume our brokenness. The flame of His love is there, ready to devour all of our anxieties; to make us new. He just asks for a little time to sit with Him and let Him do His work deep within us. So it's true. We're not paying attention. Distraction does often hinder us from letting Jesus, present in the Host, transform us into little Christs. Maybe we have this idea that the Eucharist is some kind of magic potion that will have an effect on us no matter what we do. That’s not true, though, because the Eucharist is a Person; a Person who loves us deeply and who wants a relationship with us. When a person we love is with us, we don't just ignore them. We give them our full attention. We listen when they are speaking, and they listen when we are speaking. We strive for intimacy. I think it’s amazing that after we receive Jesus in Holy Communion, we have the opportunity to completely bask in His merciful love for about 15 minutes. We have the chance to be completely immersed in the very love that we long for and in the mercy that we so desperately need. As Jesus told St. Faustina, “I am Love and Mercy itself!”1 Those are precious minutes, and it is during this time that we can best allow God to pour out on us what St. Therese of Lisieux called His “waves of infinite tenderness.”
It would be worthy to reflect on how Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity always stay after Mass. They recite a series of prayers together. Their time of prayer and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is so important that even in dire situations, Mother Teresa would not allow her Sisters to dispense with them. Fr. Leo Maasburg relates a particular incident:
In 1972 when a flood struck Bangladesh, Mother Teresa immediately sent her Sisters there to help out. The needs were enormous, and the work demanded superhuman efforts on the part of the Sisters. So they were asked if they would make an exception and not interrupt their work for their prayer sessions. Mother Teresa decided against it: "No, the Sisters will come home for Adoration and Holy Mass." Many of the relief workers who had responded to the catastrophic flood did not understand, but for Mother Teresa it was clear that the Sisters' strength dries up if they are not nourished daily by Mass and their Adoration of the Holy Eucharist.
One beautiful testimony to the life-changing reality of the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist happened the night St. John Paul II died. It was the night before Divine Mercy Sunday 2005. Fr. Michael Gaitley describes it:
[Then-Archbishop Stanislaw] Dziwisz reports that on the night of April 2, as John Paul was nearing his death, he, Dziwisz, suddenly felt a strong imperative in his heart, telling him to celebrate Mass right away. Obediently, Dziwisz began to set up for Mass right then and there in John Paul's room, by his bedside. As he was setting up for Mass, Dziwisz realized that it was well after sundown on a Saturday, and so he set up the vigil Mass for the Sunday, which of course, was the Sunday of Divine Mercy. Dziwisz celebrated the Mass as the Pope was going in and out of consciousness. At the time of Communion, John Paul was able to receive the Eucharist, doing so through a droplet of the Precious Blood. Less than half an hour after receiving the Lord, John Paul went home to his eternal reward. As Pope Benedict XVI would later describe it, John Paul went to the Father, "in the arms of mercy." (Emphasis mine)
Without a doubt, those minutes after Holy Communion, when the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist is within us, are the most precious minutes we will spend on this earth. In those minutes, we are “in the arms of mercy.” Life moves quickly, but mostly because we live distracted. Let's not waste those precious minutes when we can sit with Jesus. There may be instant anxiety at the thought of giving up more time, but the Lord says,
I promise the anxiety over the simple gift of time will be lifted as He gives you rest. We can start small. We already know that God will not be outdone in generosity. The more we give Him, the more we will receive. So invite your family to join you. If they choose not to, give them the opportunity to visit with others while you visit with the Lord. If alone, set a specific time, hour and minute, until which you will stay. (For example, if weekday Mass is at 6:30 am and usually ends at 6:54, resolve to stay until 7:00 if not later. If it's a Saturday morning and Mass is at 8:00 and ends at 8:29, resolve to stay until 8:35 or 8:40.) Then use whatever minutes are left after Mass to just be with Jesus. I worry some of you still have not really met Jesus—one to one—you and Jesus alone. We may spend time in chapel—but have you seen with the eyes of your soul how He looks at you with love? Do you really know the living Jesus—not from books but from being with Him in your heart? Have you heard the loving words He speaks to you? Never give up this…intimate contact with Jesus as a real living person—not just the idea.
St. Teresa of Calcutta: "Give God the chance to give you what He desires to give you. Stay with Him while He is with you, and then take the love and mercy you have received and share it with the whole world. There will always be distractions… but for that moment, allow yourself to be distracted by Love Himself".
St. Teresa of Calcutta: "Give God the chance to give you what He desires to give you. Stay with Him while He is with you, and then take the love and mercy you have received and share it with the whole world. There will always be distractions… but for that moment, allow yourself to be distracted by Love Himself".
Eucharist - The End of the Beginning", video presentation by Matt Maher
Link to video:
https://youtu.be/1krRUD_mO7I
Link to video:
https://youtu.be/1krRUD_mO7I