One of the pleasant surprises for me in recent years is hearing how young people love adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. When a group of teenagers returns from a weekend in Steubenville, Ohio, they are bubbling with excitement about having experienced Jesus in a real way. When I pin them down to find out the highlight of their weekend, they all say “adoration.”
It surprises me that in this age in which their senses are bombarded with images, advertisements, noise, and loud music, young people would opt for the opposite—quiet prayer. Maybe they are looking for relief.
Sometimes it may seem boring and even senseless to spend time just gazing at Jesus as he appears in the form of bread. What good can come from just looking at Jesus without saying anything? Today’s readings help answer these questions.
In the first reading (Numbers 21:4-9) we read about the Israelites getting “bored” with the same old food every day.
“But with their patience worn out by the journey, the people complained against God and Moses, ‘Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in this desert…We are disgusted with this wretched food.’”
God was not tolerant with their attitude.
“In punishment the Lord sent among the people saraph serpents, which bit the people so that many of them died.”
God seemed to be saying, “You don’t like manna; well then, try serpents.” We know that God in his mercy relented and had Moses create a remedy for the bitten people.
“Moses accordingly made a bronze serpent and mounted it on a pole, and whenever anyone who had been bitten by a serpent looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.”
Did we catch that? All they had to do was gaze upon the bronze serpent and healing entered their bodies. If gazing at a blessed image could produce a miracle, how much more can gazing at the real Jesus as he is mounted on our altars. Where is our faith? And, at home, what will happen if we take a crucifix and spend time gazing at it in silence? Surely the image of Jesus on a cross is more powerful than a serpent on a pole.
Jesus told his opponents (John 8:21-30):
“When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize I AM, and that I do nothing on my own, but I say only what the Father taught me.”
Jesus talked about his being “lifted up” on the cross. What his enemies met for his destruction, became the final proof of who Jesus really was. And from his body flows out blood and water for the salvation and healing of the world. Let us never get tired of gazing at the crucifix.
Jesus explained to the Jews why they didn’t catch on to him.
“You belong to this world, but I do not belong to this world. That is why I told you that you will die in your sins.”
The part of us that belongs to the world sees no point in being silent and gazing at the one who did not belong to the world. That part of us wants stimulation, excitement, and entertainment. On the other hand, the part of us that belongs to Jesus desires to be removed from the world and become more a part of his world. Given the opportunity, it finds satisfaction in gazing at Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and honoring him by praying before a crucifix.
It is told of St. Pope John Paul II that he so longed to be with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament that he would disrupt his entire schedule so he could dash into a chapel and adore Jesus there. Mother Teresa in her old age would return from a day on the streets looking as weak and limp as a corpse. She went immediately into chapel for an hour to draw new strength from Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Observers said that when she returned from prayer, she looked twenty years younger and was as vibrant as ever.
We are called to help offset the sins of the world. Those addicted to pornography never tire of spending hours gazing at lewd pictures on their computers. Isn’t it fitting that we never tire of spending adoration time gazing at Jesus? Sure, our bodies resist the discipline of being silent and “un-entertained.” Isn’t that a small price to pay for bringing comfort to the Heart of Jesus and helping bring joy to his heart in a world that ignores him?
“Wait for the Lord; be strong; be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord” (Ps 27:14).
