“At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, ‘Who is the greatest
in the kingdom of heaven?’ And
calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them, and said, ‘Truly, I
say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the
kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles
himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven’”
(Matthew 18:2-4).
As I continue to share different
experiences that I have seen with Eucharistic Adoration, the four verses above
are quite impressive. Little ones
need 100% help to eat, drink and live.
Often, they quickly grow close to Jesus and learn how vital he is.
As a youth minister, we used to
have a five-day retreat named “Discipleship Week” in Duluth. Between 50-75 high school students, we
always asked our students what the favorite part of the retreat towards the end
of the week. Most of them quickly
answered, “Adoration.” It was
awesome for me to watch these young men and women entering daily Masses, a
couple of nights with Eucharistic Adoration and Confession.
I also used to bring students to
Camp Survive, another diocesan event that is filled with students around our
diocese to the day. And do you
know what one of their favorite parts was for the week? Usually, it wasn’t swimming, games,
food or events. It was often
“Mass” and or “Adoration.”
After I was ordained a priest, we
had a cool event after our School Mass at St. John the Evangelist. Do you know what we did? Fr. Rich or I exposed Jesus through Eucharistic
Adoration (as well as praise and worship and confession). It was amazing to watch kids from
kindergarten-sixth graders adoring our Savior, receive love, mercy and
compassion, and beginning a better day at school.
Now I try to make each event that
offered for our students around our Diocese of Duluth, as I can serve and enjoy
how these young ones open their hearts to God.
Here are three recommendations and
goals in my mind which will only support and encourage our parishes, school and
parishioners. First, our 40 Hours
of Adoration will begin at 6:00pm at St. Thomas Aquinas on Tuesday. It will start with exposition of Jesus
Christ, a quick talk and a moment for reconciliation with two visiting priests
and me. We will also have a great
musician to offer praise and worship.
It will conclude at 8:45am on Thursday morning (with our school Mass
right after) with reposition and benediction. During these forty hours, we have several opening slots, and
we need each hour with you. Please sign up!
Second, we need two hours to be
covered during our weekly hours from Monday to Friday. Please
sign up! (Speak with me, Carol
Youso or Les Hendrickson).
Third, back in the day, we offered
Adoration for 24/7, which means “perpetual Adoration.” Now, it is time to invite and add more
adorers as this would only grow our relationships with God and our spiritual
offerings for our family. I
believe that we can easily find ten people in our parishes to enhance our
weekly prayers and we will change it to 11:00am-11:00pm. I will be signing up for Wednesday
evenings from 10:00-11:00pm. Who will join the 11:00am and 10:00pm crew?
(You adorers, fish for people to
allow this movement forward to Christ).
Finally, I love one of my former
cross-country running quotes: “When you don’t go forward, you go
backward.” While he meant this for
a sport, this also connects to Jesus Christ.
Experience Eucharistic Adoration,
as you will go forward, and your life will change!
God
Bless.
No comments:
Post a Comment