He asked them when he began to recover. They told him, ‘The fever left him yesterday, about one in the afternoon.’ The father realized that just at that time Jesus had said to him, ‘Your son will live,’ and he and his whole household came to believe (Jn 4:53-53).
One of my favorite saints is St. Therese of Lisieux. She composed a prayer called The Act of Oblation to Merciful Love, (June 9, 1895), and I have personalized it as part of my morning prayer.
One particular line struck me as so appropriate for our times: “Ah! I cannot receive Holy Communion as often as I desire, But, Lord, are you not all-powerful? Remain in me as in a tabernacle and never separate yourself from your little victim.”*
Indeed, the Lord is with us, and He remains with us. In the beginning of the Gospel of John we read, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…” (Jn 1:14). The word dwelt (skenoo, Gk), literally means that He ‘made His tent,’ or ‘tabernacled’ with us.
As I asked yesterday, “Do you have love in your heart?” Of course we do! And because we have love, we have God. Today I acknowledge that God is with me in my heart, even though I cannot receive Him in Holy Communion. He is there. To this truth I assent in faith. I pray that He helps me to grow in love today as I interact with the beautiful people in my life: family, friends, and students.
As we saw in the Gospel (Jn 4:43-54) today, Jesus’ love and power knows no boundaries. Today He helps a royal official, and doesn’t need to go into the official’s house to work a healing miracle. In the same way, His love and power through us knows no boundaries. A text, a phone call, or a video chat are perfect ways to bring His love to one another.
His works are manifest when we believe.
*— Living the Mystery of Merciful Love: 30 Days with Thérèse of Lisieux (Navigating the Interior Life) by Anthony Lilles, Daniel Burke, http://a.co/7HcIQgM
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