The idea for this post came about when I was distributing the Holy Eucharist to the Faithful one early morning. I absolutely adore being an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist and have always seen the immediate results of my giving Christ in the Flesh to my fellow Catholic Christians, but on this day I noticed something that I hadn't in a very long time. Christ made me aware of the reactions, the faces, the overall responses of those receiving Christ in the Eucharist. I witnessed such genuine smiles and actions that went far beyond just "Going through the motions Catholicism." Upon receiving Christ, I heard one young woman proclaim a very strong AMEN! and I witnessed this person marking herself with the sign of the cross with such passion and understanding of what just took place. She received within herself the very Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ, and marked herself with the Great Sign of His love and protection. She knew what was happening, accepted it, and fully embraced it, and I was well aware of that.
Several years ago, I served as a Master of Ceremonies, basically a lead alter server with a fancier robe. It was the Good Friday Prayer Service and we were instructed to bring a large crucifix before the alter and hold it as the Faithful came up to worship Christ through venerating His image on the cross. This was actually my first experience attending this service. Each person would either touch or kiss the cross or image of Christ. There were others who would also bow and make the Sign of the Cross before it. I remember seeing young children smiling as they would come up to kiss the hand of the image of Christ and then walk away holding their parent's hand proclaiming proudly how they kissed Jesus. What stood out most of me were the Faithful who truly took in the moment as seen on their expression on their face. They recognized that Our Chris died on a cross, so that we might live and live more abundantly than we could ever have imagined. Each person I came across in those moments accepted this truth and embraced it and I was well aware of that.
About two or three years ago, I came across Catholic Underground for the first time. A truly wonderful experience of Eucharistic Adoration accompanied by Evening Prayer and music. I fell in love from my first experience with this form of worship. Christ before us, there to be worshiped and adored. One of my favorite parts of Catholic Underground is that we have the opportunity to kneel or sit directly before Christ in the Eucharist. It always reminds me of art depicting the apostles laying or sitting close to the Lord as He preached to them. There was one night, in which a lot of the younger worshipers came up and sat before the Lord. One young woman in particular knelt directly in front of the Lord and was worshiping hands out singing loudly. We were singing Oceans by Hillsong United. As we were still singing, she stopped and spoke loudly enough for me to hear, "Lord, I am yours, I am yours," proclaiming it as she gestured from her heart out to Him, signifying that her whole self belonged to Christ and to Christ alone. We all belong to Christ which cries out the truth that nothing in this world can touch us because we are His. She knew what was happening, accepted it, and fully embraced it, and I was well aware of that.
Each of these stories shows Christians devoted to Christ and though they were most likely unaware that others were watching, others were indeed watching. I certainty was and their Faith inspired me and my Faith. I think we don't always recognize the impact we have upon others just by being ourselves and worshiping God. I struggle with this a lot. Those Christians did not purposefully try to act Holy, so that others might see, they just were. Their Faith shown brightly just because they have made a decision to follow Christ and live as Christ would have them live. It's been said many times before, there is no greater adventure than to live a life devoted to Christ. When we take that walk, there is this light within us that shines brighter than any other.
Lately, I've taken a step back from a lot due to a great many stresses in my life, but I hope to write more often again. I've felt this calling deep in my heart to speak of Christ to others and with others as they express there own walks. If anyone ever wishes to discuss Faith, please feel free to email me at mmichael92@aol.com or message me through Facebook.
I'd also like to take a moment to post a link to a Youtube video created by a close friend and Godfather to my son. In his video, Adam talks about his conversion story to the Catholic Faith. It's an amazing video/story and I encourage you to take the time to check it out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVeY_FRO4gw&fbclid=IwAR3pi5oSCbGczVztmClGM-XqGQCBa15G2B-wuXVdfk-ZcFcxIuySsDAqUTc
"Heavenly Father, Thank you for giving us this great community of the Faithful to worship and glorify You together. Please help all of us to live out our lives and faith lives as true examples, with passion and understanding knowing that with our worship we acknowledge that you are God, that You love us, and that we live because of You. Amen!"
About two or three years ago, I came across Catholic Underground for the first time. A truly wonderful experience of Eucharistic Adoration accompanied by Evening Prayer and music. I fell in love from my first experience with this form of worship. Christ before us, there to be worshiped and adored. One of my favorite parts of Catholic Underground is that we have the opportunity to kneel or sit directly before Christ in the Eucharist. It always reminds me of art depicting the apostles laying or sitting close to the Lord as He preached to them. There was one night, in which a lot of the younger worshipers came up and sat before the Lord. One young woman in particular knelt directly in front of the Lord and was worshiping hands out singing loudly. We were singing Oceans by Hillsong United. As we were still singing, she stopped and spoke loudly enough for me to hear, "Lord, I am yours, I am yours," proclaiming it as she gestured from her heart out to Him, signifying that her whole self belonged to Christ and to Christ alone. We all belong to Christ which cries out the truth that nothing in this world can touch us because we are His. She knew what was happening, accepted it, and fully embraced it, and I was well aware of that.
Each of these stories shows Christians devoted to Christ and though they were most likely unaware that others were watching, others were indeed watching. I certainty was and their Faith inspired me and my Faith. I think we don't always recognize the impact we have upon others just by being ourselves and worshiping God. I struggle with this a lot. Those Christians did not purposefully try to act Holy, so that others might see, they just were. Their Faith shown brightly just because they have made a decision to follow Christ and live as Christ would have them live. It's been said many times before, there is no greater adventure than to live a life devoted to Christ. When we take that walk, there is this light within us that shines brighter than any other.
Lately, I've taken a step back from a lot due to a great many stresses in my life, but I hope to write more often again. I've felt this calling deep in my heart to speak of Christ to others and with others as they express there own walks. If anyone ever wishes to discuss Faith, please feel free to email me at mmichael92@aol.com or message me through Facebook.
I'd also like to take a moment to post a link to a Youtube video created by a close friend and Godfather to my son. In his video, Adam talks about his conversion story to the Catholic Faith. It's an amazing video/story and I encourage you to take the time to check it out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVeY_FRO4gw&fbclid=IwAR3pi5oSCbGczVztmClGM-XqGQCBa15G2B-wuXVdfk-ZcFcxIuySsDAqUTc
"Heavenly Father, Thank you for giving us this great community of the Faithful to worship and glorify You together. Please help all of us to live out our lives and faith lives as true examples, with passion and understanding knowing that with our worship we acknowledge that you are God, that You love us, and that we live because of You. Amen!"
