Our Great Need for Jesus

Every single one of us has a deep need for Jesus.  We are all in need of his mercy, forgiveness, and love, and nothing or no one else can take His place.  There were a few moments at the National Eucharistic Congress that reminded me of this reality.

During the Friday night Revival Session, during adoration, Fr. Boniface Hicks led us in a Litany of Healing and Repentance in the Eucharist.  A powerful and beautifully written litany, it moved my own heart and I’m sure the hearts of thousands of others.  As we were about to begin to pray this litany, Fr. Boniface asked us to close our eyes.  As we prayed the responses, I could clearly hear the voices of the two people kneeling to the right and left of me, in addition to my own.  And for some reason, this was really profound and stood out to me.  I think it is because it was a reminder that they too, along with everyone else, need Jesus, that I am not alone, that we’re all in this together.

Saturday night, as the priest processed in with Jesus in the monstrance, Matt Maher who provided music for the night led us in singing his song, “Lord, I Need You.”  To hear a stadium full of people singing this song, acknowledging their need for Jesus “every hour” was so powerful.  Imagine if the whole world came to admit their need for Jesus, to recognize that they cannot do anything alone.

These moments at the Eucharistic congress were reminders that Jesus really is the answer to everything for everyone.  Whether we are young, old or somewhere in between, we need Jesus.  Whether we are at the top of the ladder, in an entry level role, or somewhere in between at work, we need Jesus.  Whether we think we have life figured out or we are still learning, we need Jesus.

​The world desperately needs to know who Jesus is, so that they too might one day acknowledge their great need for Him.  May we all continue to share who He is, always proclaiming, “Lord, I need you.” 

Here is the Litany of Healing and Repentance in the Eucharist, written by Fr. Boniface Hicks: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1duL1QgV73GCCxq8YJ-Ak75K7QR4Kua1V/view