Despite all the trials we face and crosses we bear, one thing is for certain: much joy is to to be had when we find Jesus in our midst. As every cross and every struggle has an even greater reward, Jesus is always with us giving us strength and joy! We can witness the love of Jesus in many ways, but I’ve listed a few that I think are worth mentioning.
One way we see Jesus is through other people. Because we are all temples of the Holy Spirit, the presence of God is with us. Whether through the random act of kindness from a stranger or a loved one reaching out, we can feel and witness the love of God from those around us. We must especially remember God’s presence in the people we find most difficult to love. God created every person in His image and likeness. He keeps us in existence through His love. Our job is to love all those He purposely places in our lives. If seeing Jesus in them is hard, maybe we need to show forth the Jesus in us first by offering a kind word, act of mercy, or prayer. The difference you want to see in the world can start with you.
As Saint John the Baptist says:
“‘He must increase; I must decrease.’” (John 3:30)
Or even as Saint Paul says:
“‘I have been crucified with Christ; yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me; insofar as I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who has loved me and given himself up for me.’” (Galatians 2:19, 20)
Another way we feel the presence of God is when we find the Lord’s grace in a difficult situation giving us the strength and joy to pull through. Truly, we will feel God’s Presence when He works miracles in our lives. When the Lord gives much-needed answers to prayers, maybe even things we forgot to ask for but desperately needed, God’s love shows forth like heavenly rays of sunshine bursting forth from a dark and cloudy day. The Lord’s daily graces and blessings given to us freely should make us always rejoice.
As Sacred Scripture says:
“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice in it and be glad.” (Psalm 118:24)
Above all, we experience Jesus wholly in the Eucharist: His body, blood, soul, and divinity. When we receive His Real Presence, we feel God so intimately. As Saint John Vianney said, “Upon receiving Holy Communion, the adorable Blood of Jesus Christ really flows in our veins and His Flesh is really blended with ours.”
When we take Communion at Mass, we should do so with the utmost reverence, remembering Whom we are receiving. We should spend a few moments with Him just basking in His love and asking God for the grace to stay with us in all we must do. After Mass, we need to carry the presence of Jesus within us, bringing His love and light to all those we encounter. For some, we might be the only example of God’s goodness they will see. So, we must give a good example of Christlike love to all those around us. But of course, we cannot give what we do not have. We must receive Him worthily to be able to share the love of God with the world.
I always love how the fruit of the fifth Joyful Mystery of the Rosary, Finding Jesus in the Temple, is joy in finding Jesus. I always think of the sadness and great worry Mary and Joseph must have felt in losing Jesus for three days. We all get upset when we lose something, but how much greater is losing someone dear to us and that someone being God! But what incredible joy they must have felt in finding Him. What we can learn from this mystery is that any type of loss is not the end. A joyful ending is always found n Christ. We must remember this truth, especially when our time comes and we must sadly leave behind all our loved ones. But what great joy awaits us in our heavenly home with Our Lord Jesus Christ!
I hope you feel called to experience God’s loving presence through these ways too, taking this message to heart. I hope that, through my article, you open your eyes to all the joyful ways God meets us and that you are ready to embrace Him with open arms.
