< <  

Friday, March 14, 2008

  > >
Jeremiah 20:10-13
Psalm 18:2-7
John 10:31-42

View Readings
Similar Reflections

believing places

"In that place, many came to believe in Him." —John 10:42

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:  For the last ten years, Josephine has kept her commitment to visit the eucharistic Jesus the same time every Friday.

Reference:  (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)

Rescript:  †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General Archdiocese of Cincinnati, August 14, 2007

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.