Friday, March 20, 2020 –
We are blessed to still have Adoration at our parish. It’s different and weird being in a near empty church (10 person limit) with the closest person to you at least 20 feet away, but we still have this precious time with our Lord. It is terrifying to think this could too be taken away.
In all the panic and darkness I’ve seen of late, Adoration has been the bright flame, a healing balm. While we are all physically “socially distanced,” it has brought us closer to each other spiritually. The kindness shown to one another in peaceably sharing this precious gift has been wonderful. Everyone followed the new “rules” and rotated out so new people could spend a few minutes with our Lord.
It was a great joy to spend 4 hours in the presence of our Lord, rotating outside to let others in as needed (again, 10 person limit). I like to keep a pad and pen close by to scribble thoughts, notes, and generally get out of my head any “invading” junk keeping me from prayer.
Some thoughts:
So many people want to make suggestions and complaints during this time of unrest, but how many of us are bending the knee and listening to the Lord? How many of us are waiting for His word rather than inserting our own? How many are repenting and returning to the Lord?
You have not left us, Lord. No! It is we who have abandoned You. In Your great mercy You have given us unending love, but we have turned away.
How can I make amends for all my sins against You, O Lord? You have paid the debt for my soul, but I have squandered all Your love and gifts. I became complacent. I took You for granted.
Help me, Lord, to love You more fully. Teach me to be Your adoring child. You are the Almighty, the Everlasting—our hope, our refuge, and our strength. Let me sleep at Your feet and warmly accept Your loving embrace without question.
The pain we feel from our absence at Your Most Blessed Sacrament is great. How sweet the balm will be when we can return to Your Holy Mass and devoutly receive You: Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity!
Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, pray for us!
