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August 30, 2013
12:00PM

Before I entered the seminary, my family and I went out for lunch. Fortunately, a few of my friends were able to send me off as well. Before I went into the car to go to the seminary, my friends showered me with love. They sent me off with warm smiles and even warmer (not to mention tighter) embraces.

Even a few days before I was greeted with loving and thoughtful messages from friends and family. The Lord really knows how to make His children feel loved. The Lord’s love is so overwhelming!

When I stepped into the seminary, it felt as if I was just here for another retreat. I was getting acquainted with a few new faces and getting to know more about the faces that were familiar.

Usually, I enjoy praying the liturgy of the hours. For some reason, as we prayed the evening prayer on my first night, it felt dry. It felt as if there was so much resistance to put myself fully into the words. I was tired. I was distracted. I was not comfortable.

That night, when I went back into my room, I deep sense of loneliness hit me. I sat on my bed, looked around my room and I couldn’t help but feel lonely. I missed a lot of things. I missed a lot of people. I knew that transitioning into seminarian life would be hard, but I could never really grasp it before because of how excited I was. Am I even ready? Is this really where the Lord wants me? After so many weeks and months of being affirmed and knowing that the Lord is calling me to the seminary, now I wasn’t so sure.

The following morning we celebrated the Holy Eucharist. When Father raised the Holy Eucharist during consecration, all of a sudden I remembered why I was here. I remembered the love of the Lord. I remembered the comfort, the grace. I wasn’t uneasy. I wasn’t uncomfortable. I wasn’t nervous, anxious, or scared. When the light of the morning graciously entered in the Eucharist, I could not help to be in awe. I was fully present. The Lord was fully present. I can’t remember a time where I have been more engaged in the words being said than at that mass. In that moment, I knew I was home. The Lord is my comfort, my place of refuge. Wherever the Lord is, I will call my home.

It’s easy to be distracted and lose focus, but there is something about the Lord’s love that you can’t deny.