What A Beautiful Gate!!!

After Easter, we had a reading that inspired within me a vision ---a place of healing for all to come, a place called “Beautiful Gate.” The reading was from Acts 3 and told of Peter and John seeing a crippled man at a temple gate called the “Beautiful Gate.” If you note in the reading, the man begs alms from Peter and John. But instead they gave him something much greater.

”But Peter looked intently at him, as did John,
and said, "Look at us."
He paid attention to them, expecting to receive something from them.
Peter said, "I have neither silver nor gold,
but what I do have I give you:
in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, rise and walk."

I really got excited about this concept of a “Beautiful Gate,” a place where all could come to find healing—all types of healing. A place of prayer, Adoration Services, quiet peaceful walks, time alone with God and people on hand for counseling/prayers/ and confession if they sought this for complete healing. Like Peter on Transfiguration Mountain, I wanted a “Beautiful Gate” place of healing and prayer started. "Let's build those 'tents' for Jesus, Mary and the Holy Spirit to bring healing!

"So, I sent out this concept along with an Adoration Service designed for healing, to my bishop and two other church leaders.. The Healing Adoration Service was to have both the "touchable" Presence of Jesus and the mediations on the Mysteries of the Rosary as the way in which healing is found.

We really need this, I thought, in our Church, for many are leaving for religions that offer ‘the WORD,’ and full Pentecostal praise and worship with healing services. Many are leaving our Church, for they do not know that within our Catholic Church is the full Pentecostal experience they long for and desire. Within our Church is that ‘Beautiful Gate,’ the true Presence of Jesus Christ in our midst, in every Catholic Church, where ever a tabernacle and that lit red candle are found—and that is in EVERY church.

It was the First Sunday of May, however, that we heard this reading from John Chapter 10.

“So Jesus said again, "Amen, amen, I say to you,
I am the Gate for the sheep.
All who came before Me are thieves and robbers,
but the sheep did not listen to them.
I am the gate. Whoever enters through Me will be saved”

God, who had been watching me approaching Church leaders with the “Beautiful Gate” concept, gave me, in that reading, the WHOLE PICTURE, so to speak. These words also were impressed in my heart, “Tell them, I Am the Beautiful Gate.”

Of course---we already have available that place to come for healing—especially if we go to Adoration Services or spend an hour in Adoration faithfully where this is offered—24/7. And wouldn’t it be nice if all churches offered 3 HOURS of Adoration on a weekly basis? Surely there would be enough retired folks or other people who desire to pray for others and want to give, in a committed way, their time to God. Surely they could come to spend an hour with Jesus in Adoration in every parish. Surely!

Does your church represent “the Beautiful Gate” where all who come can find that living Presence of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit manifested within its doors? They are there, but, do people witness that love of God and the gifts of the Holy Spirit? Now that should be discussed at your next Parish Council.

Jesus tells us in that same ‘Gate’ reading, in verse 10 of John chapter 10 “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly."

His Presence should be so strong in our parishes that there is no doubt that we love and serve a Risen Lord and we are VERY ALIVE by our faith in Jesus our Lord.