Sitting Right Next to You

Fr. Matthew and the St. Isidore Youth Delegate team represented our parish at the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis. In this newsletter series, our youth share reflections on their encounter with Christ in the Eucharist.

One of the most significant moments for me at the National Eucharistic Congress happened when we went back to our rooms on Thursday night. We were all getting ready for bed, but one person in our room just went over to the couch, plugged in her AirPods, and started to write in her journal. At first, I brushed it aside. It’s normal to reflect on the day. As time went on, though, I saw that she just stayed there and eventually started to weep. I immediately went over to see if I could comfort her and realized she was praying and writing down all of her thoughts in her journal. Just sitting there, listening to worship music, and crying for Jesus.

This opened my eyes. I started to realize that this experience was what God’s love is about. It showed me how He is so powerful yet so gentle and loving. Yes, He is your Father who created everything, but He is sitting on that couch right next to you, hugging you, and making sure you are ok. Letting you know you are loved.

This helped me to realize — who cares that you have a relationship with Christ? No one. You are the one who has to be open to take it at full speed. You have to embrace the sadness, joy, struggles, and love that come with this journey. The love that He gives changes your life in the best way possible, but nothing will come if you don’t open your heart first.

He is your Father who created everything, but He is sitting on that couch right next to you, hugging you, and making sure you are ok.

—Mary-Grace, St. Isidore parishioner and high school sophomore