“Radiating the Mighty Presence of Jesus in our lives!”

(Based on Eccles 1:2-11 and Lk 9:7-9 – Thursday of the 25th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2)

On October 3, 1979, Pope Saint John Paul II was making his first papal visit to the United States.

He came to New York City and was met by Cardinal Cooke, the Archbishop of New York, who escorted the Pope into St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

When the Holy Father reached the sanctuary, he paused and looked around.

Then he turned to Cardinal Cooke and asked, “Where is Archbishop Sheen?”

[Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen was one of the most influential Catholic evangelists of the 20th century – a powerful preacher, writer and a man of strong prayer and deep devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and our Blessed Mother – renowned for bringing the Gospel to millions through his preaching, writing and pioneering use of television.]

The Cardinal had to send his secretary to find the Archbishop, who was toward the back of the cathedral in the Mary Chapel
[Archbishop Fulton Sheen was making his daily Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament in the Chapel]

The Holy Father waited motionlessly!

The people were wondering what was happening to cause this apparent delay.

Finally, Archbishop Sheen (now 84 years old) emerged from the chapel.

When the people realized that the Pope had been waiting for the Archbishop…
… they stood up and gave Archbishop Sheen a seven-minute standing ovation.
[After all, he had been the voice of the Catholic Church in America for nearly thirty years]

Then Pope Saint John Paul II went over and embraced the Archbishop, now quite frail with age and sickness.

The Holy Father said to him: “You have written and spoken well of the Lord Jesus! You have been a loyal son of the Church.”

Here was Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen.

A man who had spent his life speaking about Jesus Christ.

And here is what is striking: The crowd had gathered to see the Pope…
… but the Pope himself was looking for a man whose entire life had been spent making Jesus known.

Perhaps that is the real measure of a Christian life.

Not how many people know our name…
… but whether we know Him well and whether our life has made His Name known well – JESUS OF NAZARETH!

Do we know Him?
Do we REALLY know Him?
… or do we, like King Herod, in the Gospel of the Day, end up asking, “Who then is this about Whom I hear such things?” (Lk 9:9)

When we scan through the pages of the Gospel of St Luke from Chapters 4-9, we find that Jesus was acquiring new heights of fame, popularity and public acclaim.

His words and teachings were…
… ringing in the bells of transformation
… challenging the integrity of the religious leaders and civil authorities
… providing a cushion of hope and encouragement to the lost and the marginalised

His acts of wonders and powers were…
… instilling excitement in the lives of people
… causing the people to have reminiscences of the great prophets of old

As a result the people began to discuss and to say, “John has been raised from the dead; Elijah has appeared; one of the ancient prophets has arisen” (Lk 9:8)

Such rumours, reports and recounts caused a lot of worry for King Herod.
The flames of anxiety were scorching his mind…
The waves of guilt were drowning his heart…

And therefore, with a highly guilty conscience, in fear and trembling, King Herod puts forward his theory on the Dilemma of this Mysterious Divine Person, “John I beheaded. Who then is this about Whom I hear such things?” (Lk 9:9)

The enigmatic personality of Jesus was casting clouds of fear and guilt over King Herod!

The charismatic work of our Blessed Lord was plunging King Herod into the ocean of haunting and forgettable memories!

Yet, King Herod failed to establish a relationship with our Blessed Lord.

His mind failed to move beyond the realms of wonder and amazement, to wanting a bonding with the Messiah!

Is our life also sadly moving along the same lines, as that of King Herod…?

Is our life of sin and our life of not wanting to take the risk of trusting Him, just like King Herod, causing us to miss out on cherishing a relationship with our Blessed Lord?

To King Herod….
… Jesus only remained a mysterious and stupefying character

King Herod was unable to accept Jesus as His Saviour

We also have surely heard a lot about this wonderful Divine Person named Jesus.
… but has He been able to capture our minds and hearts and do we co-operate with Him to be possessed by His love?

We also have had ample opportunities to grow in our spiritual life and to be receiving a number of teachings on His Divine Word
… but has the Word of God truly become the rule and the guiding principle of our life?

It’s nice to be attracted to the power of God…
… to praise His wonders
… to be amazed at His awesome deeds.

But it’s just not enough to remain at this peripheral level.

Our Blessed Lord came…
… not to simply amaze, but to attend to our sins and failures

He wishes that we truly embrace Him…
… as the Lord of our lives and as our Personal Saviour and Master

Jesus, Who lived a “Solitary Life” has made a great impact on the world
May our personal life also give testimony to this fact…
… and let us truly radiate the Mighty Presence of Jesus in our lives!

On the eve of the Beatification of Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen, let us thank the Lord for this faithful servant of the Church, who has infuenced so many, and brought millions to Catholic Faith by his preaching, his writings and his life!

Let us seek to follow his example of spending time with the Eucharistic Lord (especially, if possible, everyday [or as often as possible] ‘An Hour with the Blessed Sacrament’)

May the powerful words of Venerable Fulton Sheen, help us to take to heart the message of the Gospel today:
“The wicked fear the good, because the good are a constant reproach to their consciences.

The ungodly like religion in the same way that they like lions, either dead or behind bars…
… they fear religion when it breaks loose and begins to challenge their consciences!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!