So much of the scriptures is encounters with God, stories of folks who came to know God.  We hear from the Acts of the Apostles today, folks who’d had an encounter with Jesus and were willing to be shut up in prison or even die for the Lord in order to spread his name. In our second reading, we hear of the heavenly, perpetual encounters with the Lord Jesus – the thrones and dominions and principalities and all these living creatures worshiping the Lord. In our Gospel we see a group of men out fishing, and they’d had no luck all night…until an encounter with the Lord changes it all – all the sudden they can’t contain all they were getting

An encounter with Jesus changes everything

I think that’s why God is giving us a perpetual adoration chapel here in Shelbyville

It’s all about encoutners with the Lord

15 Reasons You Should Sign Up for a Holy Hour
By Fr. Mike Keucher, VF

1. Jesus will rub off on you
   You know what it’s like to be around someone you love, someone you admire — they rub off on you!  In adoration, Jesus rubs off on you.  And you’ll be a better person, I promise!
2. Absorb Divinity – Get an S-O-N tan
   No matter what you do on the beach — whether reading, running, sleeping, swimming, etc. — you will get a tan (or a burn!). It’s the same in the adoration chapel.  Being with Jesus is a game-changer!
3. Find rest in the cave of solitude
   The world is filled with noise. Studies show that everyone needs silence for spiritual health. Where better to find silence than in the presence of Jesus?
4. Jesus asks: “Will you not spend one hour with me?” (Mt. 26:40)
   Jesus knows the importance of spending an hour with him, so he asks us to in the Bible.  Will you say yes???
5. Feed your soul
   You can’t survive on one meal a week! It’s the same with our spiritual lives. Sunday Mass isn’t enough.
6. Waste time with Jesus
   “To waste time — if I may say it — before the Lord, before the mystery of Jesus Christ. To adore, there in the silence, in the silence of adoration.” Pope Francis.  Turns out, ‘wasting time’ with Jesus is the most important use of our time!
7. Come to know Jesus
   “One cannot know the Lord without being in the habit of adoration.” Pope Francis. How could we ever know someone without spending time in their presence?
8. Jesus wants your REAL PRESENCE
   Two of Jesus’ final words were “I thirst.” The Lord thirsts for us, he desires us, to talk to us, spend time with us.
9. Strengthen your marriage & family
   Praying with your spouse in front of the Blessed Sacrament is an amazing thing! Plus it makes us better sons, daughters, husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, etc!
10. Be transformed, renewed, refueled
    Every time folks come to Jesus in the Bible, their lives are changed!  Miracles happen. They are sent on missions.  So much happens when we spend time with the Lord.  No wonder the Devil doesn’t want anyone doing a holy hour.
11. Find peace and direction in your life
    We’re lost without the Lord!
12. Be enveloped in the rays of Divine Mercy
    In our Chapel of Divine Mercy, the merciful rays of Jesus will envelop us, surround us, flood us!
13. Your parish needs you
    Starting an adoration chapel is a big deal! It takes a lot of commitment from everyone. We have 900 Catholic families in Shelbyville. We need a minimum of 168 people to take a weekly hour
14. Pope Saint John Paul II: “This is my hope and prayer: the establishment of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in all parishes and Christian communities throughout the world” (June 1993).

I would spend an hour with Jesus…..
Wherein Fr. Mike refutes some popular excuses people have.

1. But I don’t have the time.
   St. Francis de Sales said, “Everyone needs a half hour of prayer every day, unless you’re busy – then you need a full hour.” “Unless you believe that prayer is the most important thing you can ever do, you will never find time to pray.”
2. But I don’t know what adoration is and I don’t know how.
   Adoration is simply spending time with Jesus. In your hour, you can pray a rosary, read the Bible, read a spiritual book, just sit there with God, pray with your earbuds in, whatever!!!  There will be plenty of prayer resources in the lobby. We will also have orientation nights to help!!  I will also be doing a video series…but sign up NOW
3. But adoration is not “my thing.”
   Spending time with Jesus isn’t your “thing”?  I wonder how that will go when, after your last breath, you knock of heaven’s door and ask to spend eternity with Jesus.
4. But I have kids are they’re too loud and poorly behaved.
   No one loves children more than Jesus!  Remember how he always said, “Let the children come to me.” It is a beautiful thing to see parents bring their children – literally – to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Jesus rejoices, and the kids learn by their parents’ example!
5. But I’d rather just pray in my house, thank you very much.
   That’s like saying talking to someone on the phone is as good as talking to them in person. Better to be in the REAL presence of Jesus.
6. But I live too far away.
   Like the gym, the hardest part is showing up. Do that and God takes care of the rest. People in Africa often walk hours to church. When people fall in love, no time is too long, no distance is too far – nothing can keep them apart. Why is this different with God?
7. But I don’t want to commit to an hour – my schedule changes too much.
   Generally, if you don’t commit to an hour, you won’t do an hour. Just find a sub if you can’t show up this or that week. If you can’t find one, no problem –all you have to do is call the adoration chapel coordinator!
8. But the hour I want is already taken
   There’s no rule that says we can’t have more than 2 people signed up for an hour!
9. But I’m not holy enough
   How better to become holy than to spend an hour each week (or day!) with Jesus???
10. But the weather gets bad.
    We will close when the weather is bad. More info on that as time goes on.
11.  But I’m afraid to go at night
    There will be an entry code on the door (which only adorers will know) and security cameras.
12. But someone else will do it.
    If everyone thought that way, no one would sign up. We need YOU.
13. But I don’t like this idea.
    Talk to Jesus about that.
14. But I can’t leave the house because of my health. I can’t drive.
    I do understand this one and so does Jesus. If you aren’t able to get here, you are excused!! Pray for us at home.