On first Fridays we have adoration in the chapel at St. Louis. Today, because there was a funeral, we had to push adoration back to begin at noon (which is when my hour begins). So I was given the honor of exposing Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. First I set up the mobile side altar and placed two candles on it; then I set up the empty monstrance ready to receive our Lord for exposition. Finally, I knelt before the tabernacle and prayed that Jesus would help me humbly expose him on the altar for us to adore him. I opened up the tabernacle and there Jesus was, in the luna that fits inside the monstrance. I picked him up and cradled him in my hands close to my chest and walked to the altar.

Then all of a sudden it struck me: What an amazing honor I was being given to carry Jesus to the altar for adoration, so that others could worship him, pray to him, offer their hearts and souls to him, and receive his mercy and grace. For the past few years I have done the adoration scheduling, but it usually feels disconnected from really helping people adore our Lord. Today God showed me how good it is to serve him and bring him to others. Is this how a priest feels when he celebrates Mass? When he gives absolution in Confession? When he baptizes a baby? When he marries two of God’s children?

I got to adore Jesus for an hour, and the time went by quickly. As I was leaving I saw a young Hispanic family with their little son. They showed him how to genuflect and make the sign of the cross before the Blessed Sacrament. It was really beautiful. May God bless all families!