Wrapping our hearts around Jesus

by Colleen Spiro

Christ with the Eucharist by Juan de Juanes (Photo Credit: Wikipedia).

 
Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life " (John 6:68).

To whom shall we go?

If we turn away from Jesus, to whom shall we go? Who has the answers? Who has the words of everlasting life?

Sometimes we have a crisis of faith. Sometimes we do not know what to believe or who to listen to. But if we turn away from Jesus, to whom shall we go?

When the sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church first hit several years ago, I wasn’t sure what to do or where to go or what to think. I am an incest survivor and this hit too close to home. I felt totally betrayed. My heart was breaking. Some people were leaving the Church. Should I?

To whom shall I go?

I knew I didn't want to leave the Church, but I was lost and confused and in a great deal of pain. Every month I went to see my spiritual director, a priest at a neighboring parish. Every month I ranted and I raved and I cried. Month after month, he listened. He listened and he supported and he acknowledged my pain.
 
I went to the Blessed Sacrament as often as I could. I sat and I prayed and I cried. I went to Mass as often as I could and I received Jesus.

At a time when people were leaving the Church and bashing the priesthood, I found Jesus in the Eucharist and I found Jesus in a priest. And slowly I began to heal.

To whom shall we go? Jesus. 

Jesus has the words of eternal life. Jesus is the One we can count on. Jesus is the One who loves us and will never betray us.

We do not always understand how the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist is even possible. It is beyond our ability to reason out. We cannot wrap our minds around it. So instead, we wrap our hearts around it.  We wrap our hearts around the Eucharist. We wrap our hearts around Jesus. And we just believe. 

We don’t understand, but we believe.

Who else has the words of eternal life?

Dear Jesus, in my heart of hearts I know, you have the words of everlasting life. Help me to keep my faith. Help me to always trust in you. I love you, Jesus. Thank you for loving me. Amen.

 
This was originally posted at Colleen's blog  Thoughts on Grace. Colleen also writes at  Catholic Prayer Life.