I went to Adoration last night. It is one of those weird Catholic things. I had to unburden myself. Sadness and sighing. Sometimes, He makes me laugh. There were no laughs today. But the Monsignor told us that a boatload of young people are in the RCIA. He said that 11 of the 16 people he met with decided to look into the Church because of the witness of their friends. So that was inspiring.
You know, I went to this Eucharistic Adoration a lot in the months before I pulled the trigger. I wasn't sure what I believed about this Real Presence as they taught it. But it didn't matter. Jesus is Jesus. This is why I said, "Where Christ is, falsehood cannot be." I experienced what he meant when he said, "And surely I will be with you, even to the end of the age." Because we know he is sitting at the right hand of the Father. When He comes again, it will be glorious and terrible. But in this mode, He is not Judge. He's the one who said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom belongs to such as these." I don't know a whole lot, really. But I do know that God is Love. Jesus is living, breathing, walking Love. Aside from the Pharisees, is there anyone who didn't have a chance to know this when Jesus was here the last time?
Nothing matters except Love. The only ones who won't know are those who won't let go. Remember he said, "Unless you become like a little child, you cannot enter the Kingdom of God." Being there with Jesus is like looking him right in the face if you're the woman at the well. You're hiding something, all strong and proud. But He knows. And with a word, all the walls come down. He relativizes everything in Love. I couldn't think of a single thing or worry that mattered.
Anybody who tells you that Catholicism robs glory from Jesus to give it to somebody else just isn't paying attention. That's a load of stuff. Anything or anyone you could think about or talk to is worthy because they were suffused with Love. When you go to Mass and share in the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the words of the prayers leave you with this distinct impression: "Whoever wrote this actually believed Jesus was telling the truth." At the Mass, everything gets really simple. Heaven and Hell, death and life. And you have to choose this day whom you will serve.
There are no rules in Catholicism. The only rule is Love. I can't believe I ever thought it was legalistic. We either live in a world governed by Love, or in one governed by Self. If Jesus' commands are burdensome, it's because there's too much Self. Being reconciled to God is only a chore if you have the wrong view of the one to whom you are reconciled. Can you imagine standing in line, waiting for the sacrament, knowing already that you are loved? God wants to know if you love Him. It's not God who has failed in the relationship. Why would he fail us now? To bring us near, He does what He is.
You know, I went to this Eucharistic Adoration a lot in the months before I pulled the trigger. I wasn't sure what I believed about this Real Presence as they taught it. But it didn't matter. Jesus is Jesus. This is why I said, "Where Christ is, falsehood cannot be." I experienced what he meant when he said, "And surely I will be with you, even to the end of the age." Because we know he is sitting at the right hand of the Father. When He comes again, it will be glorious and terrible. But in this mode, He is not Judge. He's the one who said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom belongs to such as these." I don't know a whole lot, really. But I do know that God is Love. Jesus is living, breathing, walking Love. Aside from the Pharisees, is there anyone who didn't have a chance to know this when Jesus was here the last time?
Nothing matters except Love. The only ones who won't know are those who won't let go. Remember he said, "Unless you become like a little child, you cannot enter the Kingdom of God." Being there with Jesus is like looking him right in the face if you're the woman at the well. You're hiding something, all strong and proud. But He knows. And with a word, all the walls come down. He relativizes everything in Love. I couldn't think of a single thing or worry that mattered.
Anybody who tells you that Catholicism robs glory from Jesus to give it to somebody else just isn't paying attention. That's a load of stuff. Anything or anyone you could think about or talk to is worthy because they were suffused with Love. When you go to Mass and share in the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the words of the prayers leave you with this distinct impression: "Whoever wrote this actually believed Jesus was telling the truth." At the Mass, everything gets really simple. Heaven and Hell, death and life. And you have to choose this day whom you will serve.
There are no rules in Catholicism. The only rule is Love. I can't believe I ever thought it was legalistic. We either live in a world governed by Love, or in one governed by Self. If Jesus' commands are burdensome, it's because there's too much Self. Being reconciled to God is only a chore if you have the wrong view of the one to whom you are reconciled. Can you imagine standing in line, waiting for the sacrament, knowing already that you are loved? God wants to know if you love Him. It's not God who has failed in the relationship. Why would he fail us now? To bring us near, He does what He is.
Comments
I don't have the fluency of language and thought like you do, all I can say is that is the most glorious truth most beautifully expressed.
Thank you, Jason. The muse is with you;)
~Susan