TV, Jesus and Sun....

Adoration...

A few months ago I had a huge experience in Adoration. For those who don't know, Adoration is the exposing and adoring of the Blessed Sacrament, the Eucharist. A young adult in Townsville arranged an all night adoration prayer time to pray for the upcoming elections. It was to trust in God that the right people would be elected. I don't really follow Australian politics but I understand that it was a good result for the Christian church in Australia.
I have always struggled in adoring the Blessed Sacrament. I believe that Jesus is fully present in the Eucharist and that his true presence is made known but I find it hard to look at him and pray. A piece of bread in a Gold monstrance, was sometimes all I saw. But that night, I saw Jesus. Not a person standing before me, not a vision, not a piece of bread that 'represents' Jesus but the body of Christ that died for me. The Adoration took place on a Friday night, so I prayed the rosary. The rosary has always been a difficult prayer for me to pray. It just felt like repetition. But I saw the sacrifice that God made for me, for us, for everyone. I saw Jesus for 5 hours that night. I'm not putting a figure on it to impress or show off. I was, however, proud of myself. Spending time in Jesus' presence is the most valuable, sacred, time worthy act we can do as Catholics. Wether it be receive Him in the Eucharist or just look, it is the most powerful prayer in the world.

"In a world where there is so much noise, so much bewilderment, there is a need for silent adoration of Jesus concealed in the Host. Be assiduous in the prayer of adoration and teach it to the faithful. It is a source of comfort and light, particularly to those who are suffering." “With the Synod Assembly, therefore, I heartily recommend to the Church’s pastors and to the People of God the practice of Eucharistic Adoration, both individually and in community”
Pope Benedict XVI, February 22, 2007, Sacramentum Caritatis, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation.

It has been incredibly busy lately, we are preparing for a conference/ retreat in Cairns called Breakthrough. It is a wonderful thing to plan an event like this for young people. Trying to see what we can do to help them in their faith and their relationship with Jesus is a blessing and one that I hold very highly. It is of great importance for us to share and live out our faith as an example for others. I read a good quote the other day but I'm not sure who said it. "Just as standing in a Garage does not make you a car, going to church does not make you a Catholic" (it may have been Christian). Our faith is one that needs to be lived every day. It is never easy to do because of what the world throws at us. I encourage everyone to spend time with Jesus and be with him. That is where it should start, and putting out faith and trust in Jesus will bring us to greater, deeper understanding of what God wants us to do in our life.
Also people should read this article, great writer and great topic

http://lifeteen.com/gay-catholic-and-doing-fine/ 

and then check out his blog 

http://www.stevegershom.com/

And then on some unrelated notes, Leverage is the greatest TV show in the world. Planning an epic trip up the coast this Christmas, mum wants actual Christmas on the beach. Cannot wait! Only 5 weeks to go till I am back in Brisbane, gonna be the longest 5 weeks, so much to do and never enough time, but with God all things are possible.

Please pray for me and be assured of my prayers for you

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

(Ecclesiastes 3:11)

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