Eucharistic Adoration
June 2, 2024
Jesus Christ left us an inestimable gift before he parted from this world, that gift is His Very Self in the form of the Eucharist. As most of us know, the bread and wine consecrated at Mass becomes the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ (who is God). This isn’t just what Catholics believe, as if others who believe differently might be right too, nor is this true because we want it to be; the bread and wine consecrated at Mass truly become the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ whether we accept this fact or not. In Chapter 6:61 of St. John’s Gospel, Jesus asks, “Does this shock you?” The answer to that question is “Yes,” because most of the people listening to Him got up and left. But you and I do believe in the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist and in His power because it is true.
In the Holy Eucharist, Jesus comes in humility as He did at Bethlehem, recognized by those who have faith and overlooked by everyone else. Imagine if God announced from the heavens that His Son, Jesus, was going to come down to earth at a specific time and place? Hundreds of millions, or billions of people would flock to that place to witness the coming of Jesus Christ. Well, Jesus actually does come down to earth every time we celebrate Mass. Unfortunately, He does not get the kind of respect and audience He deserves because our priorities are out of order. Almost all Americans spend hours a day staring into a screen: smart phone, TV, or computer. How many hours a day do most Americans spend with God? None, of course.
In every Catholic Church there is a tabernacle where the Eucharist (also known as the Blessed Sacrament) is kept. Our Lord desires that we spend still, silent, time with Him in prayer in His Eucharistic presence. This is called Adoration. Any and all are welcome in any Catholic church to spend time with Jesus before the tabernacles that repose Him.
Spending time with Jesus is worth it. As God, He can sanctify, bless, console, enlighten, purify, heal, restore, strengthen, empower, et cetera. I can go on all day. Our relationship with Jesus increases profoundly when we set aside time to spend with Him in Eucharistic Adoration. Some priests and consecrated religious have found their vocation while in Eucharistic Adoration. People that invest themselves in Eucharistic Adoration see their faith deepen and expand, inevitably committing more of their time, talent, and treasure to helping others grow in their faith. On rare occasions we can see miracles happen, while from God’s perch, He sees miracles happening all the time.
Every week, Holy Redeemer Parish has Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament from 9:00am on Fridays thru 8:00am on Saturdays – 23 hours. It would be wonderful if everyone would commit to an hour of adoration once a week. This would do wonders for you. It would also do wonders for others because God’s grace would work through you and go out to others. We need people like you to commit to an hour once a week to keep this vital ministry going. Without making a commitment by signing up for a particular hour, we would not be able to continue having this great gift of Adoration. Because they are harder to fill, please consider signing up for one of the hours in the middle of the night, especially if you don’t have to work on Saturdays, or are retired (you can sleep in or take a nap later in the day J). Committing to an hour of Adoration is easy. Scan this QR code or go to hrvan.weadorehim.com. You can also go to our website and click on the adoration button. It will take you to that same site.
The following are some quotes from the Missionaries of the Blessed Sacrament on the fruits of Eucharistic Adoration. Enjoy.
1. He is really there! “I myself am the living bread come down from heaven.” (Jn 6:51)
2. Day and night Jesus dwells in the Blessed Sacrament because of His infinite love for you! “Behold I am with you always until the end of the world.” And “I have loved you with an everlasting love, so I am constant in my affection for you.” (Mt. 28:20; Jer 31:3)
3. Each hour you spend with Jesus will deepen his divine peace within your heart. “Come to me all of you who are weary and find life burdensome and I will refresh you.” “Cast all your anxieties on him for he cares about you.” (Mt 11:28; 1Pt 5:7)
4. Jesus will give you all the graces you need to be happy in life. “The Lamb on the throne will shepherd them. He will lead them to springs of life-giving water.” (Rev. 7:17)
5. Each moment that you spend in His Eucharistic presence will increase His divine life within you and deepen your personal relationship and friendship with Him. “I have come that they may have life and have it more abundantly.” “I am the vine; you are the branches. He who lives in me and I in him, will produce abundantly, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (Jn 10:10, 15:5)
6. Each hour you spend with Jesus on earth will leave your soul everlastingly more beautiful and glorious in heaven. “They who humble themselves shall be exalted.” “All of us, gazing on the Lord’s glory with unveiled faces, are being transformed from glory to glory into his very image.” (Lk 18:14; 2 Cor 3:18)
7. Jesus will bless you, your family, and the whole world for this hour of faith you spend with Him in the Blessed Sacrament. “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” Faith can move mountains. “What is needed is trust.” “Behold I make all things new.” (Jn 20:29; Mk 11:23; Mk 5:36; Rev 21:5)
8. Each moment you spend with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament brings joy to His Sacred Heart! “My delight is to be with you.” (Prov 8:31)
9. When you look upon the Sacred Host, you look upon Jesus, the Son of God. “Indeed, this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks upon the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life. Him I will raise up on the last day.” (Jn 6:40)
10. Jesus is infinitely deserving of our unceasing thanksgiving and adoration for all He has done for our salvation. “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and praise!” (Rev 5:12)
11. Jesus asked you to love Him in return by spending one quiet hour with Him each week in the Blessed Sacrament. “Where your treasure is, there is your heart.” “Could you not watch one hour with me?” (Mt 6:21, 26:40)
May Our Eucharistic Lord Bless You,
Fr. Thomas Nathe
