Focus on Jesus — Be Filled and Become a Vessel of Love

During Holy Mass today, I felt Jesus inspiring me with a beautiful image.

Look at Jesus, not at the storm

When Peter stepped out of the boat, he was able to walk on the water as long as his eyes were fixed on Jesus. Though the wind was strong and the waves were raging around him, his focus was on the Lord.

But when Peter took his eyes away from Jesus and looked at the storm, he became afraid and began to sink.

Isn't this also true in our lives?

We may be surrounded by storms—worries, fears, problems, temptations, disappointments and uncertainties. But when we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, we can rise above what seems impossible.

When we focus on Jesus, the storm does not necessarily disappear, but it no longer has the power to overcome us.

This is what happens when we look at Jesus in Eucharistic Adoration. As we gaze upon the Holy Eucharist, let our focus slowly move away from everything around us and become completely fixed on Him.

Our eyes, ears, thoughts, feelings and every sense that is constantly drawn towards the world can become quiet before Him. The noise of the world fades, and our hearts become open to Jesus.

We become immersed in the ocean of God's love.

Just as Peter walked upon the water by keeping his eyes on Jesus, we too can walk through the storms of life when our eyes remain fixed on Him.

I am like a bottle, thirsting to be filled

Then I felt Jesus showing me another image:

“You are like a bottle. You are thirsting for love.”

A bottle cannot fill itself. It needs to come to the source and be filled.

Likewise, our hearts can be thirsty for love—thirsty to be understood, accepted, valued, cared for and loved.

We may try to satisfy this thirst through people, possessions, achievements, attention or the things of the world. But the deepest thirst of our soul can only be satisfied by God's love.

So Jesus invites us:

“Come to Me. Let Me fill you with My love. Drink from My love and be satisfied.”

Come before Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.

Come with your emptiness.

Come with your wounds.

Come with your loneliness.

Come with your thirst for love.

Let Jesus fill you—not merely until you are full, but until His love begins to overflow from you.

Filled to pour out

But Jesus does not fill us so that we keep His love only for ourselves.

A bottle filled with water has a purpose—it is meant to give water to someone who is thirsty.

Likewise, when Jesus fills us with His love, He sends us back into the world to become a source of His love for others.

When someone comes to us thirsty for love, may we give them what we have received from Jesus.

When someone needs patience, let us give patience.

When someone needs forgiveness, let us give forgiveness.

When someone feels rejected, let us make them feel welcomed.

When someone is hurting, let us bring compassion.

When someone is discouraged, let us give hope.

We are not the source.

Jesus is the Source. We are only the vessels.

And something beautiful happens when we give.

The more we pour out the love we have received from Jesus, the more He fills us again.

Jesus tells us:

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.” — Luke 6:38

So let us not be vessels that are merely full.

Let us become vessels that overflow.

Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus in every storm.

Let us come to the Eucharistic Jesus with our thirst.

Let Him fill us with the ocean of His love.

And then let us go out and quench the thirst of others with the very love that He has poured into us.

Focus on Jesus.

Be filled by Jesus.

Drink deeply from His love.

And overflow with His love to others.

For when Jesus is our focus, our source and our fullness, even in the midst of the storm, we can keep walking.