“Am I sure God loves me?”
On Christ the King Sunday, the last Sunday of the liturgical year, in the afternoon, we had a somewhat different event at the Curia, which is why we want to share it with you.
On the last Sunday of each month, the parish gathers to pray for vocations in the Church and does so with the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Since there are many religious houses in the area, we go to a different one each time. A few days ago, Fr. Bernardo OSJ asked us if this Sunday could be in our house and Sofia, the superior, responded with pleasure to the proposal. The parish priest told her not to worry about anything because the parish had arranged everything.
At lunch we informally shared that the big chapel at home was already prepared for the prayer: beautiful candles and plants around the altar, the microphone was working, but there was no incense… Twenty minutes before the announced time, those who brought a portable harmonium, the vestments they were going to use, the sheets to follow the prayer and even the incense began to arrive.
Those of us who were at home, almost all of us, were welcoming people. Those who spoke Italian better, attentive to the porter’s lodge; the others, in the hall, in the chapel, in the sacristy… waiting for whatever they might need. As the neighbors arrived, from more or less nearby, many religious and some lay people, the chapel was practically full.
The heart was ready. We began by singing “Davanti al Re ci inchiniamo insieme…” (Before the Lord we bow together). The silence was palpable and the union in faith that is expressed in the prayer: “Come, Lord, for without you we are lost… let your light shine in us to dispel all darkness. Come, bringing your light where discord reigns, hope where there is despair…” (All in Italian, of course).
We listened to the reading (Rom. 5:5-11) and to some words of the Pope in his catechesis “Hope does not disappoint”: “Hope is not based on what we can do or be, nor on what we can believe. The foundation of hope is the most faithful and sure thing there can be, that is, the love that God himself has for each one of us. It is easy to say: God loves us. We all say it. But think about it: is each one of us able to say “I am sure that God loves me”? This is the root of our assurance, the root of hope-“But in this bad moment?” -God loves me. “And me, that I have done such an ugly and bad thing?” -God loves me. That assurance is not taken away from us by anyone. And we must repeat it as a prayer: God loves me. I am sure that God loves me… an extraordinary gift of which we are called to be “channels”, with humility and simplicity, for everyone.” (General Audience, 15-2-2017)
The incense seemed to echo the silence. The Eucharist attracted the gaze. And, after listening, who is looking at whom, we shared silent adoration. I will keep this. It is true that then came the express prayer for vocations and the vespers of the day and the solemn blessing. We were leaving the chapel for the street. They left in five minutes. And I said to myself, “Didn’t
our hearts burn…?” Adoration also makes Parish, it makes community.
Curia Community. Rome.
