I love your Presence

He is like a tree planted near running water.

It sounds peaceful: a big tree, planted “near running water,” its roots sunk down into the fertile soil.   That tree would be guaranteed constant refreshment and nourishment.   Wouldn’t it be great to have a similar peaceful life?   Being tapped into what nourishes us, we would always feel invigorated, cared for, sustained.

The good news is that we do have a constant, streaming source of nourishment: Jesus.   How do we “tap into” his refreshing life?   If we listen to the saints, one particular way stands out: Eucharistic adoration.

Here’s what St. Catherine Labouré has to say:

“Whenever I go to the chapel, I put myself in the presence of our good Lord, and I say to him, ‘Lord, I am here. Tell me what you would have me to do.’ . . . And then, I tell God everything that is in my heart.   I tell him about my pains and my joys, and then I listen.   If you listen, God will also speak to you, for with the good Lord, you have to both speak and listen.   God always speaks to you when you approach him plainly and simply.”

St. Catherine describes spending time relaxed and comfortable in Jesus’ presence in the Blessed Sacrament.   She brought him her concerns and needs.   But she also sat and listened to him.   She was a lot like the psalmist’s tree, quietly absorbing the constant flow of life.   We can do it too.   Eucharistic adoration provides a time set apart from our everyday responsibilities.   It’s a time to listen, learn, and absorb.   Beyond pouring out our concerns, we simply sit in his presence.   We enjoy him.

Try this the next time you are able to go to adoration: sit with Jesus with no particular agenda.    Enjoy his company.   Soak in the peace of those moments set apart for him.   If you find your mind wandering, you might want to try to imagine that tree near streams of water.   The more time you spend with Jesus, the more comfortable you will become, and the easier you’ll find it to sense his presence and hear his voice.

So go!   Rest by the river and absorb those nourishing, healthy waters.

word among us