Earlier, I said "through Biblical teachings, as well as our own experiences and observances in living the faith, Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God". The Gospel of John (14:27) reports Jesus as having said “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you”, and for me, this verse is borne out to be true when I participate in prayer and in receiving the sacraments of the Catholic Church. These are the times in my life when I do indeed feel most at peace; at peace with myself, at peace with others and at peace with the Lord. Therefore the answer to the question 'Why Jesus?' simply becomes 'because I believe what He said to be true'.
My personal experience of prayer and the sacraments has, to date, been concentrated on four main areas: prayer to the Lord; adoration and receiving of the Eucharist; receiving the sacrament of reconciliation; and, prayer to Our Lady – the Blessed Virgin Mary. I shall provide some examples of basic Biblical teachings on these four, as well as my own personal experiences.
Prayer
Jesus reminded us that by ourselves we can do nothing (John 5:19, 5:30). He told us “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Matt 7:7). It is for this reason that we are reminded to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests” (Eph 6:18).
Everything we have, everything we are and everything we do, we would not have, we would not be, and we would not be able to do, were it not for the grace of God. For many people (as was the case with myself), it is only when they reach a point in life when they come to the realisation that there is either something missing from their life that in their heart they want, or that there is something in their life that in their heart they want to get rid of, but that by themselves they are powerless to change, that they realise their complete dependence upon God.
I thank the Lord that He brought this realisation to my consciousness when He did. And since that time prayer has become central to my life and brought me much rest, reassurance and comfort. Though on occasions I forget, there are few things that I do throughout my day without praying first; from reading the Bible to watching a film, from meeting a friend to writing this text. I pray that the Holy Spirit will be with me and guide me, and that the Lord’s will be done. I know that many of my prayers have been answered throughout my life, and I’m confident that if you pray to the Lord from your own heart, your prayers will be answered too. Unless you knock, the door will not be opened.
The Eucharist
Jesus taught us “my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink” (John 6:55), He taught us “unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you” (John 6:53). Catholics believe that Jesus is truly present in the consecrated bread and wine that we receive at mass. We believe that by partaking in this communion we are given the grace and strength to live our lives in a manner more in accordance with His will.
In partaking in this sacrament we are also unifying ourselves ever more with Jesus’s Body; with His Church. Jesus taught us “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). And in order to abide in Him, we are told “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him” (John 6:56).
Many devotions and miracles relating to the Blessed Sacrament are attested to in the excellent book ‘Jesus Our Eucharistic Love’ by the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate. If you are unable to track that book down I recommend you search out another, and spend some time familiarising yourself with the significance of this sacrament that the Lord has given to us.
I truly have felt Jesus’s presence in the Blessed Sacrament, both in adoration and in receiving Holy Communion, I feel a distinct presence of peace with me. I can also testify to a supernatural experience myself. Coming from a background in bodybuilding, I consider myself to be quite ‘in-tune’ with my body and what it is telling me. During the period when I attended the gym regularly, I often had cravings for protein (which is essential to repair muscle tissue). When I was travelling around the USA by Bus, for days on end I had lived only on takeaway food, and soon I had developed a strong craving for green vegetables (a good source of vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals). Often I have cravings for dark chocolate (an excellent source (in moderation!) of plant flavoniods that is good for the heart). So recently, when I had exactly that same feeling - exactly that same craving - to receive Holy Communion, I knew something beyond biology was at work. And unless there is anybody out there that is capable of expounding the nutritional value of a communion wafer to me, I shall continue to believe in Jesus's sacred presence in the Eucharist.
The Lord was drawing me ever closer to Him, and if you are willing, and you give Him the chance, in one way or another He'll draw you ever closer too.
