Why I Spend An Hour With Jesus: The Eyes of Jesus (Part 3 of 3)

by Dennis Pryzwara

It took a long time but with His grace I acquired a rhythm of prayer, sacraments, and scripture reading that brought me closer to Jesus and His Church. I began spending an hour in Adoration each week.

During a recent Thursday Adoration time I was praying to see Jesus in others and hoping they also saw Him in me. My eyes drifted down to a mother with several little ones a couple of pews in front of me. An older brother was holding the newest member of the family on his shoulder. I thanked God for the gift of faithful families. At that moment the baby gave me an intent and deliberate lasting smile. I had on a covid mask and was not playing smiley face. The little one continued to smile at me. I felt a loving warmth.

After a few minutes the family quietly left. My wife and I continued our Adoration hour. I kept seeing the baby smiling and feeling that warmth. I thought about how little children are so very close to Jesus and sometimes able to see things as Jesus sees them. It was easy to believe that God was in that baby’s smile and that’s what made me feel His loving warmth. But then it struck me. The baby was smiling at me! Not seeing sins and failures but seeing good in me, seeing Jesus in me. It was like God seeing Himself in me!

After Adoration the first thing my wife said was “Wow, that baby was really smiling at you!” I shared what I had experienced. I can still see and feel the loving eyes of Jesus looking at me through the eyes of that child. I know He is with me. I love spending time with Him in Adoration.

Dennis Przywara