joy of nine9

The living Presence of Jesus Christ within us is our only source of righteousness, the only path to holiness This is the core message of Jesus, the core truth if we want to walk in with and through Christ. We cannot save ourselves with good works or even a rigorous regime of religious exercises. These actions will only lead us into the heart of God when we allow our false personas to die and we allow His divine love to pierce our hearts.

Holiness

 Nothing else really matters for what we consider to be of vital importance is often trivial in God’s eyes, in light of eternity but we stubbornly cling to our own sense of prestige or goodness until we are broken and humbled.

Every once in a while, a song, a book or a speaker manages to cut through our pride, our preoccupations with our busy lives to pierce through to our inner longing for God. Then our emptiness and poverty are revealed and we have enough space within to receive more of Christ. This following worship song,  sung during a Eucharistic procession, pierced through all my scattered preoccupations ushering me into the Merciful Presence of  Christ

Matt Maher sings “Lord, I Need You

Matt Maher sings “Lord, I Need You,” followed by Audrey Assad’s singing the Exposition hymn “O Salutaris Hostia” in front of 25,000 pilgrims kneeling before the procession of the Blessed Sacrament at the Tauron Arena Mercy Centre. Sponsored by the Knights of Columbus and facilitated by the Sisters of Life and Dominicans of the Province of St. Joseph (U.S. Eastern Province), the Mercy Centre was the English-speaking catechesis site at World Youth Day 2016 in Krakow, Poland. Bishop Robert Barron presided over the Eucharistic procession and later preached a reflection on the martyrdom of Fr. Jacques Hamel and the meaning of the Cross.

Also, notice how Matt Maher kneels around 1:30, when the Eucharist passes by him, and how he continues to sing from his knees for the rest of the procession.

“Lord, I Need You”

Lord, I come, I confess
Bowing here I find my rest
Without You I fall apart
You’re the One that guides my heartLord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need YouWhere sin runs deep Your grace is more
Where grace is found is where You are
And where You are, Lord, I am free
Holiness is Christ in meLord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need YouTeach my song to rise to You
When temptation comes my way
And when I cannot stand I’ll fall on You
Jesus, You’re my hope and stayLord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You

You’re my one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You

Matt Maher