It’s all about friendship with God

Monday, April 10, 2023

*Emily Chaffins

English Spanish

One afternoon, I was one of many people sitting in the adoration chapel. Truth be told, I was not trying very hard to fight off distractions. Glancing at the wall clock, I wondered how on earth I was going to make it through the hour.

Just then, my attention was drawn to a little boy beside his mother on the front kneeler, close to Jesus in the Eucharist. I watched as he reached for a paper from the stack lying atop the intentions box and grabbed a pen.

What he did next floored me. He drew hearts all over the page and placed the paper inside the intentions box.

J.R.R. Tolkien, author of The Lord of the Rings books, said that the Eucharist was “the one great thing to love on earth.”

Jesus is here in the tabernacles and adoration chapels of Miami. But I’m sure I’m not alone in taking this for granted much of the time.

The key is awakening the wonder. When we understand with our hearts as well as our heads that Jesus is here with us, then we’ll see life as an adventure – an epic story of friendship with God.

How can we rediscover, or perhaps discover for the first time, the wonder of the Eucharist?

First, let’s look at prayer through heaven’s perspective. Did you know that Jesus sees talking with you as a hangout? Jesus told Gabrielle Bossis, an ordinary Frenchwoman who heard Jesus speaking to her, “Keep me company more and more. You can never know what it means to me to be treated as an intimate friend. It is so rare. I delight in this as a human being.” (Bossis, Gabrielle. “He and I.” Translated and condensed by Evelyn M. Brown, Pauline Books & Media, 2013.)

It’s all about friendship with God – and, as with any friendship, you have to commit. God never stops being friends with you. He loves you the same, whether you are making choices that bring you closer or farther from him. If you aren’t talking with God, though, how can you grow in love for him?

We don’t always feel like going to adoration. And we shouldn’t feel bad if we feel this way. It doesn’t mean we’re doing something wrong. Just persevere in going.

Years ago, when I saw the boy drawing hearts on the paper for Jesus, I was moved to the core. Here was this little boy who was simply being with Jesus. He placed his heart inside that intention box. In bringing his heart, he brought his whole life and the lives of others to God – even the life of a stranger.

Jesus told Gabrielle Bossis: “For some I am unknown. For others, a stranger, a severe master, or an accuser. Few people come to me as to one of a loved family. And yet my love is there, waiting for them. So tell them to come, to enter in, to give themselves up to love just as they are... I’ll restore. I’ll transform them. And they will know a joy they have never known before. I alone can give that joy.”

Comments from readers

Dolores Hanley McDiarmid - 04/11/2023 01:00 PM

Emily, thank you for the lovely and inspirational article about Eucharistic Adoration and developing a friendship with Jesus. If any relationship is to grow, we need to spend time together, talking and listening to one another. That's what we do at Eucharistic Adoration. Building a relationship with our Lord takes time and requires patience and persistence. I am pleased that you mentioned the powerful and inspirational book "He and I" that provides us with an example of one persons (the author's) intimate relationship with Jesus. When I read this book more than 20 years ago, it created a strong desire in my heart to grow closer to Jesus. I wanted to have that same intimate relationship. I went to Adoration in various chapels, I entered in and gave myself to Jesus just as I was and to this day He continues to transform me as we regularly spend time together at adoration and in daily life. I pray that your beautiful message touches the hearts of many and that they will accept Jesus' invitation to visit Him. He is waiting for us! He thirsts for us! God bless you, Emily.

Sharon M Utterback - 04/10/2023 10:30 PM

Thank you, Emily for the beautiful story. It brings to reality in a very simple and inspiring way a message that we all need to hear and be reminded of. How Jesus loves us and He asks only for a little of our time and we receive so much in return.

Valli Leone - 04/10/2023 06:56 PM

Emily, I love your article and especially the phrase you used: “awakening the wonder!” Your encouragement to just show up to spend time with Jesus is, in my opinion, exactly what we need. Too much analysis always brings paralysis, but when we can just abandon ourselves to being in his presence, He comes. When I was writing a book about his love, entitled “Supernatural Joy,“ most of the inspiration came while sitting in front of the Holy Eucharist. Truly amazing grace pours out from his heart of love when we forget about ourselves and concentrate on Him. Of this I am certain, and I pray that every Catholic church will one day have a perpetual adoration chapel, so that the wonder of our God can be awakened in his presence everywhere. ✝️⚓️💜

FRANK VOEHL - 04/10/2023 12:30 PM

JITOA = Jesus is the ONLY answer! Jesus is the answer to our broken relationship with God. When God created Adam and Eve, they enjoyed perfect fellowship with Him. But Adam sinned by disobeying God, thereby bringing death into the world (Genesis 3:8–19; Romans 5:12; 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:21–22). We need to remember that a significant part of that death is spiritual death. Humanity’s relationship with God is broken. God provided a covering for Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:21) and promised a Redeemer who would defeat Satan and reconcile God and man (Genesis 3:15). The Old Testament narrative gradually reveals God’s plan to save people. The New Testament shows us that Jesus is the promised Redeemer. Jesus atoned for our sin and restores the possibility of relationship with God. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6 ). Jesus is the answer—the only answer—to our broken relationship with God. Apart from Him there is no salvation (Acts 4:12; 1 Timothy 2:5–6). The biblical term for God’s act of making peace with sinful humanity is reconciliation (see 2 Corinthians 5:18). Romans 5:10 reminds us that, in Christ, God’s enemies were made His friends and given life: “If, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!” Jesus is the answer to the problem of our estrangement from God. It is Jesus who makes it possible for our sins to be forgiven and for us to be children of God (John 1:12–13). It is Jesus who mends our relationship with God so that we can fellowship with Him during our lifetimes as well as eventually live with Him for eternity. Jesus is the answer to our guilty consciences. Even after we are saved, we still sin and experience the temporal consequences of sin. Sin keeps us from fellowshipping with God fully.

Evelyn - 04/10/2023 11:49 AM

Well put. What a great reminder. Thanks Emily.

Esther - 04/10/2023 11:32 AM

Teary-eyed at the beauty and tenderness of this post! May it move us all, young and old, to embrace the friendship of our risen Lord in every Adoration Chapel. Let’s challenge ourselves this Easter to commit to a Holy Hour each week individually or with a friend(s) or family.

Rafael María Calvo Forte - 04/10/2023 10:30 AM

Orar es tratar de amistad con amigo que bien sabemos nos ama. ( Sta. Teresa de Jesús) Y los niños muchas veces nos sorprenden desde su sinceridad espontánea…

Dolores Hanley McDiarmid - 04/11/2023 01:00 PM: Emily, thank you for the lovely and inspirational article about Eucharistic Adoration and developing a friendship with Jesus. If any relationship is to grow, we need to spend time together, talking and listening to one another. That's what we do at Eucharistic Adoration. Building a relationship with our Lord takes time and requires patience and persistence. I am pleased that you mentioned the powerful and inspirational book "He and I" that provides us with an example of one persons (the author's) intimate relationship with Jesus. When I read this book more than 20 years ago, it created a strong desire in my heart to grow closer to Jesus. I wanted to have that same intimate relationship. I went to Adoration in various chapels, I entered in and gave myself to Jesus just as I was and to this day He continues to transform me as we regularly spend time together at adoration and in daily life. I pray that your beautiful message touches the hearts of many and that they will accept Jesus' invitation to visit Him. He is waiting for us! He thirsts for us! God bless you, Emily.

Sharon M Utterback - 04/10/2023 10:30 PM: Thank you, Emily for the beautiful story. It brings to reality in a very simple and inspiring way a message that we all need to hear and be reminded of. How Jesus loves us and He asks only for a little of our time and we receive so much in return.

Valli Leone - 04/10/2023 06:56 PM: Emily, I love your article and especially the phrase you used: “awakening the wonder!” Your encouragement to just show up to spend time with Jesus is, in my opinion, exactly what we need. Too much analysis always brings paralysis, but when we can just abandon ourselves to being in his presence, He comes. When I was writing a book about his love, entitled “Supernatural Joy,“ most of the inspiration came while sitting in front of the Holy Eucharist. Truly amazing grace pours out from his heart of love when we forget about ourselves and concentrate on Him. Of this I am certain, and I pray that every Catholic church will one day have a perpetual adoration chapel, so that the wonder of our God can be awakened in his presence everywhere. ✝️⚓️💜

FRANK VOEHL - 04/10/2023 12:30 PM: JITOA = Jesus is the ONLY answer! Jesus is the answer to our broken relationship with God. When God created Adam and Eve, they enjoyed perfect fellowship with Him. But Adam sinned by disobeying God, thereby bringing death into the world (Genesis 3:8–19; Romans 5:12; 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:21–22). We need to remember that a significant part of that death is spiritual death. Humanity’s relationship with God is broken. God provided a covering for Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:21) and promised a Redeemer who would defeat Satan and reconcile God and man (Genesis 3:15). The Old Testament narrative gradually reveals God’s plan to save people. The New Testament shows us that Jesus is the promised Redeemer. Jesus atoned for our sin and restores the possibility of relationship with God. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6 ). Jesus is the answer—the only answer—to our broken relationship with God. Apart from Him there is no salvation (Acts 4:12; 1 Timothy 2:5–6). The biblical term for God’s act of making peace with sinful humanity is reconciliation (see 2 Corinthians 5:18). Romans 5:10 reminds us that, in Christ, God’s enemies were made His friends and given life: “If, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!” Jesus is the answer to the problem of our estrangement from God. It is Jesus who makes it possible for our sins to be forgiven and for us to be children of God (John 1:12–13). It is Jesus who mends our relationship with God so that we can fellowship with Him during our lifetimes as well as eventually live with Him for eternity. Jesus is the answer to our guilty consciences. Even after we are saved, we still sin and experience the temporal consequences of sin. Sin keeps us from fellowshipping with God fully.

Evelyn - 04/10/2023 11:49 AM: Well put. What a great reminder. Thanks Emily.

Esther - 04/10/2023 11:32 AM: Teary-eyed at the beauty and tenderness of this post! May it move us all, young and old, to embrace the friendship of our risen Lord in every Adoration Chapel. Let’s challenge ourselves this Easter to commit to a Holy Hour each week individually or with a friend(s) or family.

Rafael María Calvo Forte - 04/10/2023 10:30 AM: Orar es tratar de amistad con amigo que bien sabemos nos ama. ( Sta. Teresa de Jesús) Y los niños muchas veces nos sorprenden desde su sinceridad espontánea…