Monday, June 23, 2008

Truly Present

As I write this, I have just come home from the chapel where I have a holy hour: a time devoted to adoration of Christ in the Eucharist. I have the opportunity to reflect on how truly present he is there: body and blood, soul and divinity, the invisible and eternal made visible. And then I wonder: the Lord of heaven and earth has made himself truly present here for my sake. Do I have the courage to be truly present for His? Am I truly there, opening myself to Him to be drawn deeper into the mystery of salvation? What a challenge! For to be truly present in this mystery requires a sacrifice. Just as in ancient times, when blood sacrifice was required to enter into the presence of God, truly entering into this presence requires a sacrifice of self. It is not enough to pray for wisdom; I have to sacrifice my will to walk in the way of truth. It is not enough to ask for strength; I have to sacrifice my pride and allow his strength to be made perfect in me. It is not enough to ask for courage; I have to sacrifice my anxiety and allow the peace beyond understanding to take hold. It is not enough to acknowledge Him in joy; I have to bring forth a sacrifice of praise in all things.

And so I ask for courage and strength and wisdom to acknowledge Him wherever he is truly present. Tonight, it was in the Eucharist, but tomorrow I will have opportunity to recognize His presence in other places. Lord, grant me the grace to see! In the eyes of my family, in the work of my hands, in the words of my mouth, in the meditations of my heart -- He is there! He will be truly present, for to be otherwise would be to deny His very nature. I pray simply that I may be truly present there as well, and honor Him with the gifts He has given me.

2 comments:

Marva said...

Isn't it wonderful to find Chrsit living in all things........YET we have to choose to be present with him. What a wonderful post. Thank you for the much needed reminder.

Isn't it wonderful that we come from from different faiths and yet still serve the same Lord?!

Many blessings!!!!!

mamacantrix said...

What a great birthday surprise! And we are blessed, indeed, with "one body, one spirit,...one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all"!

Thanks, Marva. Your encouragement means a lot to me..and your example of faithful womanhood.

I Cor. 1:4