I worry some of you still have not really met Jesus one-to-one,
you and Jesus alone.

We may spend time in chapel,
but have you seen with the eyes of your soul how He looks at you with love?

Do you really know the living Jesus,
not from books but from being with Him in your heart?
Have you heard the loving words He speaks to you?

As for the grace: he is longing to give it.

Until you can hear Jesus in the silence of your own heart,
you will not be able to hear Him saying "I thirst" in the hearts of the poor.

Never give up this daily intimate contact with Jesus as the real living person,
not just the idea.

How can we last even one day without hearing Jesus say "I love you"? Impossible.
Our soul needs that as much as the body needs to breathe the air.
If not, prayer is dead, meditation, only thinking.

Jesus wants you each to hear Him speaking in the silence of your heart.

Be careful of all that can block that
personal contact with he living Jesus.

The devil may try to use the hurts of life,
and sometimes our own mistakes,
to make you feel it is impossible that Jesus really loves you,
is really cleaving to you.

This is a danger for all of us.
And so sad,
because it is completely the opposite of what Jesus is really wanting,
waiting to tell you.

Not only that He loves you, but even more, He longs for you.

He misses you when you don't come close. He thirsts for you.

He loves you always, even when you don't feel worthy.
When not accepted by others, even by yourself sometimes,

He is the one who always accepts you.

Only believe, you are precious to him.

Bring all you are suffering to His feet,
only open your heart to be loved by Him as you are.
He will do the rest.

- Mother Teresa, 1910-1997

Reprinted from Our Sunday Visitor September 21st 1997