I will be giving a talk at two masses this weekend at a local parish that hosts perpetual Adoration to encourage more people to sign up for a Holy Hour. Here is the draft of my short talk.
I have been coming to the Perpetual Adoration Chapel here at IHM for the past few years, sporadically at first, though I have always held Eucharistic adoration as one of the pillars of my own spiritual life. It is one of the most intimate, simple, and powerful opportunities our Lord and the Church gives us to fulfill what our lord in scripture says, “come to me all you who are weary and I will give you rest.”
For those who may be unfamiliar with it, Eucharistic Adoration models the posture of Mary (who is the sister of Lazarus and Martha) who “sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to what he said,” as it says in scripture. Let’s not overly complicate it—the Lord is truly present in the Blessed Sacrament: body, blood, soul, and divinity (even though according to a pew research poll of Catholics, only 1/3 actually believe this tenant of the faith). When he is exposed in the monstrance, he is as present before the adorer as if he was in the flesh 2,000 years ago. That is because he did not leave us orphans after he ascended into Heaven, but gave us his literal body as food for our journey. But it is also the gift of himself.
And Eucharistic adoration here at IHM truly is an unmerited gift. Think of how fortunate you are for a minute…to essentially have one of your most loving, intimate friends essentially available and on retainer for you to see him, any hour of the day or night, 24/7, free of charge? He listens to your sighs and cries, your petitions, and accepts the humble gift of praise that you offer him without judgement or condemnation.
My father told me shortly after I had met the woman who would become my wife: “you know you’ve found the One when you can be yourself around her.” That is absolutely true with the Lord. We don’t come to him because we are good or perfect, but because we aren’t. And He permits us to sit at his feet and simply worship him, speak to him, and yes, listen to him. This listening is an acquired act in the spiritual life, where we learn to be more fully devoted disciples of the Lord Christ, and it can be perfected in the act of Eucharistic Adoration.
Since we are now in the season of Lent, perhaps it’s a good opportunity to focus on one of those three pillars, prayer, with a weekly Holy Hour.
I noticed one day when I was at the chapel that there were a few slots that were not filled, one being Tuesdays from 11pm to midnight. This too was a gift and opportunity from the Lord to “stay awake with him for an hour” as it says in scripture in a more regular, committed way that made me accountable. It has been incredibly fruitful, since these hours there is no one else there most of the time, and I get a “one on one” hour with the Lord. These late night slots can also be sometimes hard to fill, but for me as a busy husband and father it’s perfect because literally nothing else is scheduled during this time. I’m just so grateful to have the opportunity. You are very fortunate as parishioners to have this gift—it’s a safe area, spacious, climate controlled, and locked entrance with key pad. When we think of our brothers and sisters in the faith in Africa, the Middle East, and China who don’t have such freedoms and luxuries, but who are on fire with zeal and dying as martyrs, we should be inspired to take advantage of what we have been afforded here to become more like them in fervor.
Consider paying the Lord a visit and just sitting at his feet, once a week to start, giving him the gift of your time—one of your most precious resources, I imagine. I promise you, you will rewarded one hundred fold in exchange for this investment of time. Where else can you get a hundred fold return in this market?
Jesus never has too many Adorers to keep him company. In fact, it’s often the opposite. You have a great gift here right under your nose here at IHM, a pearl of great price, in Eucharistic Adoration. I hope you will consider paying the Lord a visit. He is waiting for you there.
Beautiful
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