Father Simone’s Word of the Week

 I want to see Jesus.  I want to face Jesus.  He is already facing us, longing and waiting for us to recognize Him, in that “shiny gold thing” we know as the tabernacle.  Recently I celebrated Mass with the school kids at St. Jerome.  They are predominantly non-Catholic, but they know Jesus.  They are happy to be in Church, even if they don’t know all the prayers or fully understand what’s going on.  They pray well.  Whenever I celebrate Mass with small children, I am reminded of the scripture “On the lips of children and babes, you have found perfect praise.”  That day at Mass, a girl in around fifth grade, was sitting directly in front of me in her pew.  Throughout Mass, though quiet, she looked up with big, bright eyes.  Her heart was open.  After Mass, she was holding the door open for the other students.  As I was bidding them each farewell, she said “I saw Jesus.”  I said “Lead the way!  Tell me all about it.”  She said “When you opened up that “thing”, I saw Him there.”  The students are taught words like “Communion” and “Eucharist”, but they can seldom grasp the reality that Jesus is actually there before them in “The Bread.”  Few know what the tabernacle really is or Who is really there.  She was seeking Jesus in her heart with an unquestioning, childlike faith.  Without understanding, but with faith in Jesus’ love, she saw Him standing there, who was there.  I don’t think she will forget what she saw that day at Mass and something tells me Jesus revealed Himself to her in the Eucharist for a reason. 

How many Catholics do we know or used to know who are indifferent to Jesus in the tabernacle?  Ironically, if more 
non-Catholics seeking Jesus alone ventured into Mass, they might find Him there more than some Catholics.  How many are content just with talking with Jesus when we have time, or just saying the Hail Mary night and that Mass really IS an option?  We who were taught these things once, can easily take for granted what is familiar and so forget.  Jesus is waiting for us physically, emotionally and spiritually in every tabernacle.  He is longing to see us see Him, to be consoled by consoling us.  As Jesus was consoled at that young fifth grade girl seeing Him, I can’t describe how consoled I was at how consoled Jesus was this past Monday at Holy Redeemer.  I’ve been waiting for 8 months for the bishop’s written permission to move the tabernacle.  On Sunday after I was installed, Dc. Tom asked him just one more time.  Bishop Malesic said “Move it.”  Jesus is finally where He has longed to be for so long!  He is above the altar, beneath His Crucifix, where we can SEE Him SEE us at the center of the Church, as the 
center of our lives at Holy Redeemer; love you all.  Bishop says I can stay!