The Rays of His Love

By: Ivonne Hernandez

“It would indeed be unfortunate if we could be in touch with Jesus Eucharistic only in His churches. The light of the sun envelops and illumines us even when we do not stand directly beneath its rays. In the same way, from His Host our Lord will find the means to send some rays of His love into your home to bring you warmth and strength. There are currents in the supernatural order as in the natural. Do you not at times feel unexpectedly recollected and transported with love? The reason is you have come upon a beneficent ray, a current of grace. Have confidence in these currents, in these relations that can be had with Jesus, even from a distance. It would be a sad thing were Jesus to receive adorations from us only when we come to visit Him in church. No, no! He sees everywhere, He blesses everywhere, He unites Himself everywhere to those who want to communicate with Him. Adore Him therefore from everywhere; turn in spirit toward His tabernacle.”. [1]
- St. Peter Julian Eymard



Meditation:

When the temperature outside drops and the sun does not come out, it is very hard to stay warm. It seems that the cold penetrates all the way through to our bones. We sit by the fire, and try to stay warm. When it is time to head outside and face the harsh cold, we bundle up to keep the warmth from our own bodies from escaping. Eventually we need to go inside again and warm up, or we would freeze to death. I’ve been pondering on the lyrics of Daniel Kantor’s song, “Night of Silence”:

Cold are the people, winter of life
We tremble in shadows this cold endless night
Frozen in the snow lie roses sleeping
Flowers that will echo the sunrise
Fire of hope is our only warmth
Weary its flame will be dying soon.

The world can be a very cold and harsh place for our hearts too. We see many beautiful souls who are like these frozen roses, asleep. They need a gentle slow warming, to let their fragrance fill the world. Perhaps we were one of these frozen roses before, and somehow, somewhere, Jesus reached us with one of His rays. Perhaps it was a family member, or a stranger who smiled at just the right moment, or a sermon from a priest. Whichever form this ray took, its source was and is always Our Eucharistic Lord, who sees everywhere and blesses everywhere.

Jesus “will find the means to send some rays of His love” wherever we are. Those of us who have been blessed to receive His fire in the Eucharist need to be those rays that will bring Him to the cold dark corners of the world. This “cold endless night” is not really endless. We have the promise that “Night will be no more, nor will they need light from lamp or sun, for the Lord God shall give them light, and they shall reign forever and ever.” (Rev 22:5) In the meantime, we need to remain warm with the fire of hope, and bring that fire to those around us who are still frozen, or who are in danger of freezing. We need to sit often by the fire of the Eucharist and keep our own hearts warm with His love.

[1] Eymard, St Peter Julian. The Real Presence (p. 304). Veritatis Splendor Publications. Kindle Edition.

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