Forty Hours
I, John, looked and there was the Lamb standing on Mount Zion,
and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand
who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.
I heard a sound from heaven
like the sound of rushing water or a loud peal of thunder.
The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps.
They were singing what seemed to be a new hymn before the throne,
before the four living creatures and the elders.
No one could learn this hymn except the hundred and forty-four thousand
who had been ransomed from the earth.
These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes.
They have been ransomed as the first fruits
of the human race for God and the Lamb.
On their lips no deceit has been found; they are unblemished. (Rv 14:1-3,4b-5)
We are in the midst of our Forty Hours devotions at St. Thomas More Church. These devotions give the faithful the opportunity to spend some quality time with the Eucharistic Lord.
Last night, Fr. Rick Holy, our guest speaker this year, told us that the Eucharist is the means by which we can touch God and be touched by God physically. Jesus is within the elements of bread and wine, changed into the Body and Blood of Christ. When we pick up the consecrated host, we are touching the Lord and He, in turn, embraces us.
Fr. Rick shared that we, the physical beings that we are, crave touch. Our bodies are entirely covered by skin which is designed to touch and be touched.
What a great mystery that our God can touch us and allow us to touch Him in the Eucharist.
As we touch God and are touched by Him, we receive so much love.
That love is given to us to share with others.
There are many people in our world craving to be touched, to be aided, simply to be noticed.
Will we notice them today?
FAITH ACTION: Plan to spend some time with the Lord in private adoration today. If possible, come to this evening’s talk at 7:00 p.m.