The Eyes of Jesus

One of the things I like about Mondays is that our small prayer group, the Christ Circle meets in the evening. Led by Rev. Karen Joy Gifford, we have been meeting for many years.

Christ Circle focuses around the importance of regular, committed prayer practice. The practice OF prayer. That prayer IS a way of life and that prayer is very powerful. We call the results of prayer our demonstrations, and in the history of the group, we have many and mighty demonstrations. More than enough to keep us believing.

In the Christ Circle we focus on Christ Consciousness and of course that brings us to the basic reality of Love, as the one, all-powerful and enduring quality in our lives. Christ was the Way-Shower for that. Forgiveness and healing are the paths to knowing ever-greater the joys of love.

The six members of this prayer group do not do a lot of other things with each other in the normal course of our daily lives, but the bond among us is strong and powerfully felt. The prayers for one another are graciously received. The struggles and challenges amongst us are confidently laid open to the healing balm of Christ’s presence.

My husband’s hospital room was the scene of one of these prayer demonstrations just two weeks ago. He was recovering from back surgery and was having significant troubles from unknown causes. He had been in distress for a day or so with a few more ahead of him before it would settle down.

He was very foggy, confused and in pain. It was a Sunday morning and a Eucharistic minister we did not know came into the room and asked if he wished to receive Jesus. He said yes.

She gave him communion, then turned to me and offered the consecrated host and I received. Then she appeared a bit shaken and admitted to us that she was. But she said she must tell us both something before she left.

“I cannot leave before I tell you something,” she said. “I’ve been doing this ministry for twenty years and I love this ministry, I truly do.” She said she’s met many wondrous people doing this. “But there is something about Tom and I am to tell you this.”

“When I came in the room, my eyes were drawn immediately to yours, Tom, and I saw the eyes of Jesus looking back at me. I saw the face of Jesus in your face and He wants you to know He is very close to you,” she continued. “And he wants you to know you are very close to him.”

She admitted feeling uncomfortable saying this, but she felt sure our paths were destined to cross and that it was because she was to tell him this. We told her we have a covenant we say daily for Christ Consciousness in our lives and that we brought a healing covenant to the hospital that we also prayed together.

All three of us, who were alone but together in the room, felt the Presence of Divine Love. I pointed out the statue of Jesus of the Divine Mercies propped up on Tom’s hospital bed-table. There was a time of quiet and gratitude.

And then she walked quietly out of our lives again. There is a comedian who used the line quite frequently, “I’m not making this up!”

That’s what I kept having to say to myself after experiencing that moment of grace in the hospital. I didn’t make this up. I didn’t know it was coming. I had no idea but the wonder of it soothed mine and Tom’s soul in the days to come and gave us both renewed courage that healing was assured and on its way this moment.

Tom had to stay awhile in another intensive rehab inpatient unit, but it was the perfect place for him made ready the day after the Holy Communion miracle. From there on, he made progress in leaps and bounds and was released two full weeks before they anticipated.

The power of prayer – the Presence of the Divine Christ — made it all possible.  The faithful practice of prayer fuels it.