I RECEIVED A PEACE THAT WAS NEW TO ME
The Eucharist is my center. It is where I find peace.
I was raised in the Protestant faith, so the idea of Christ being present, fully human and fully divine, in the Blessed Sacrament was completely foreign to me.
Even after I completed my RCIA in 2006 and was welcomed into full communion with the Catholic Church, it was still lost on me. I mean, I understood that we “thought” Jesus was present in the Eucharist, but I had not fully grasped or experienced this truth. I loved our Church and the people, was active in our parish, and felt I was in a good place concerning my faith, but something was missing.
In preparation for the Synod in 2016, my wife, Michele, began to attend weekly adoration. I started to see a change in her faith and love for Jesus, and I wanted in! I remember the first time I attended Adoration with her, I had no idea what I should be doing. I looked over and she was reading a book and I asked, “Can you do that here?” I had so many questions running through my mind, but luckily for Michele I kept them there. “Should I stand?” “When do I stand?” “When do we kneel?” “Can I kneel?” “Should I be kneeling?” “That guy’s kneeling, that lady isn’t!” “Why is that person lying face down on the floor over there?!” It was a beautiful mess of questions.
After a few minutes, I settled down and my focus fell to the monstrance. As I looked at the Blessed Sacrament, I asked a simple question: “Jesus, is that you?” His response was subtle but unmistakably Him. I received a peace that was new to me. It was a true peace. I knew right then I was present with Christ.
The difference that moment made in my life was the recognition that it doesn’t need to be perfect. Jesus came to me in that chapel when I was confused about what to do, felt out of place, was struggling and distracted. He met me right where I was, and I have remembered that moment. Many times since, I haven’t gotten it right in my faith life. I’ve come to Him distracted again, feeling less than worthy, frustrated with my calling, tired, confused, sinful, irritated, you name it. And each time, He comes to rest with me and brings peace and calm. I’ve learned that He is not concerned with how I come to Him, just that I do.
https://www.iamhere.org/stories/david-kennedy
I AM HERE is a campaign by the Archdiocese of Detroit and Hallow App in support of the National Eucharistic Revival.