I YIELD MY LIFE TO YOU, LORD JESUS CHRIST

Lord Jesus Christ, like the man born blind in the Gospel of John, I was also born blind, unable to see your way, unable to know your truth, and unable to experience your life. But through the waters of baptism, I have been washed, reborn and made whole. My sight has been restored to see you, Jesus, as the Way, to know you as the Truth and to experience you as the Life. In your encounter with the man born blind, you said to him, “Go wash in the Pool of Siloam— which means Sent. Through the Sacrament of Confirmation, I have been immersed in the Holy Spirit, Sent to practice my Catholic Faith, and commissioned to witness and proclaim “Iesous Christos Kyrios!” (Jesus Christ is Lord!). Loving Jesus, when the man born blind realized that you are the Son of Man, he expressed faith in you and also worshiped you. In the Eucharist, I encounter you. I believe you are the Son of Man and the Bread of Life. I believe that the Bread I receive at Mass is your Body that was bruised and tortured for my sake. I believe that the Wine I drink is your Blood of the new and eternal covenant that was shed for the remission of my sins. I believe that what I receive at the Sacrifice of the Mass is you, Jesus Christ, my Redeemer and the Redeemer of humanity. 

Therefore, like the man born blind, I worship you. I accept wholeheartedly that you came into the world so that I, a blind person shall see again. I believe that you came into the world, that I, a sinner, will be forgiven. I believe you came to set me free, to save me, and help me get connected to God. Please Lord, help me to realize always that without you, I am blind and lost. Inspire me to aspire to worship you daily in spirit and in truth. Give me a heightened thirst for you and a heightened quest to see you in my neighbor and to serve you in my neighbor. 

Sweet Jesus, when I become blind to truth and righteousness, help me to know of it and to seek for your healing and the restoration of my sight. Help me to run to you— the Light of the world and the Light of my life and soul. Stay with me, Lord Jesus and do not go. Stay with me and do not let me go. I yield my life and soul to you. I yield the lives of those who are dear to me to you. Restore our sights to see and to know what really matters, which is to know you, love you and serve you in this world and be happy with you eternally in the next. Amen.  

— Composed by:

 Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, Brooklyn Center, MN

Fourth Sunday of Lent, Year A

March 22, 2020