“The Lord Will Show Up”

A number of years ago I had an important leadership position in our community. There were always significant issues that needed resolution. In truth, it was somewhat overwhelming. 

At that time I developed a wonderful habit of going to Eucharistic Adoration…. almost every day. I would leave the office and travel to a local church which had perpetual adoration. My routine including journaling with the Lord…. “Lord, what are we going to do about this situation…. I have an important meeting with that person, that church official…. what about the upcoming retreat, etc., etc.”  It was amazing how the Lord would “answer” me with responses that brought me peace. Maybe it was an insight, a thought, an approach on how to move forward. I would often arrive at Adoration somewhat agitated, but would leave in peace. 

I was reminded of those times today as I read a note about Blessed Clement. He commented, “I sometimes find myself collapsing under the weight of tribulations, but I assure you that, after five minutes with a living faith before the Blessed Sacrament, I feel fully revived, so that all that first seemed too hard became light and easy.” (Magnificat, June 15, 2023) I can say that I experienced a similar thing during those years. I would get my “marching orders” and the strength to move ahead.

Eucharistic Adoration is still part of my prayer, but not daily Adoration. Maybe I don’t feel the same need; life is “more manageable”. Hmmmmmmm. I’m convicted as I’m writing this BLOG. I experienced a great need during those years and was almost compelled to cling to the Lord. I really knew my need for God. But now ?

Well, I certainly still have major needs and challenges in my life and pray quite a bit, yet I don’t seem to have the same urgency that compelled me to make daily Eucharistic Adoration a top priority. Yikes….. Lord, what are you saying to me about all this?

Well, I think the Lord is calling me to a renewed urgency in prayer… an urgency that compels me to cling to my times of prayer…. a  certain “desperation” that causes me to push aside other lesser priorities. It’s not just about “getting my prayer time”, but more of expecting the Lord to be there waiting for me with encouragement and wisdom for my challenges, with real answers, with peace that passes understanding. 

Just think about it, “if someone offered you a one hour “sit down” with Pope John Paul II or Padre Pio…. wouldn’t you jump at the offer ?  “Padre Pio, I’m very concerned about my friend who has cancer, about my granddaughter who is sick…. what should I do, how should I act, what’s going to happen, please help me, help them…”  

Well, we can have that “sit down” with the Lord Jesus. We can ask him to help us, to show us what to do.  It may be at Eucharistic Adoration, or being up at night to pray, or any time. As the famous baseball movie said, “If you build it, they will come”. More importantly, if we set aside time to pray, the Lord will show up. And that is very good news.