Friars Corner: I found Jesus!

Fr. Bob Hilz, TOR

Genesis 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18; Psalm 25:4-9; 1 Peter 3:18-22; Mark 1:12-15

This is one of St. Francis of Assisi’s prayers.

Most high and glorious God, enlighten the darkness of our minds. Instill in us a correct faith, a certain hope, a perfect love and a profound humility, O Lord, with wisdom and understanding to truly carry out your holy will.

I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

My theme this Lent is a desire to get closer to Jesus. Our Bible and Church history teach us that once the Son of God came physically to earth in the person of Jesus Christ, he has never left us. Yes, at the Ascension his earthly body went back to heaven. He did promise, in many ways and places in the New Testament, to be with us always.

How have I found Jesus? The first place is daily at Mass.

Take this all of you and eat it, this is my Body given for you.

Take this, all of you, and drink from it. For this is the Chalice of my Blood, the Blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of me.

Our daily bread

Jesus also taught us in the Lord’s Prayer, “Give us this day ‘our daily bread.’” As often as we attend Mass, we receive Jesus, himself. God is filling us with more of his divine power to take his goodness out into the world. If we are unable to attend daily Mass often, there are usually some consecrated hosts left over that we keep in the tabernacle for sick calls or for the dying. Meditations of this mystery of the presence of Jesus at Mass and after has led many over these long centuries to come and adore, praise and worship Jesus in the exposed Blessed Sacrament or just to visit and adore Jesus in the tabernacle.

Jesus is there and shall radiate us with more of his love. I am writing these reflections after a Holy Hour at 3 p.m. on Friday afternoon. As I look at Jesus in the Sacred Host and long for more of his love, amazing things happen inside of me. I am being filled with more of God’s love for me. Find some time to go to a Catholic, Byzantine or Orthodox Church and sit for a little time close to Jesus in the tabernacle.

Revealed in his glory

The reading that most impacts me this weekend is St. Mark’s gospel about Jesus being transformed before his suffering and death, along with Moses and Elijah. Mark describes Jesus’ clothes becoming “dazzling” white. St. Matthew 1:1-8, says Jesus “face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as dazzling white.” St. Luke, in 9:28-36, wrote, “And while he was praying, the appearance of his face underwent a change, and his clothing became ‘dazzling white.’”

Jesus was revealed to his closest friends in his glory that would happen after the events of his passion and death. This would give then a little strength for his darkest days. As you read the appearances of Jesus after his resurrection, what did his glorified body look like? I want to stand in his glorious light because he truly is the true light of our world.

The Face of Jesus

I have a beautiful and eye-piercing picture of the face of Jesus looking directly at us with a gentle smile and blue-grey eyes, which radiates his love for us. I love spending time gazing into his loving eyes. Bette Myers painted this picture, The Face of Jesus or The Masterpiece. You can read her story and get a copy of this wonderful picture at http://www.bettemyers.com/.

Jesus is around us and in us from the time of our baptism unless we tell him to leave through serious sin. Jesus told believing Jews in St. John’s gospel 8:31-32.

If you make my word your home, you will indeed be my disciples (My students), you will come to know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

As we take some of our 24-hour day, guided by the Holy Spirit in prayer and reading the New Testament gospels and Hebrew letter, we will become Jesus’ students (disciples). We shall learn his truth for our lives, and his truth will set us free.

This week, may Jesus pierce your heart with more of his love and enlighten your minds with greater understanding of God’s plan for us and all of humanity.

Blessings,

• Fr. Bob Hilz
  (© 2018 Fr. Bob Hilz, TOR)