It was supposed to be a five-minute errand. My husband waited in the car while I dropped off a donation, but a quiet pull toward the church doors turned a simple "drive-by" obligation into an unexpected moment of awe.
More Than a Simple Drive-By Offering
Divine Mercy Sunday, 2020. It was the time of pandemic, when the whole world was on lock down.
My husband and I drove to Our Lady Queen of the World Church to drop off the Sunday offering into the collection box. This was the time when we attend the Mass on TV, and we drive to our parish to drop off our small offering.
So there we were. My husband waited patiently in the car, bless him, thinking it would be a quick drive-by—just in and out. My words, exactly.
I picked up on my pace and ran up the stairs as with most churches that have double doors leading to the vestibule, one side was open, suggesting it was open for visitations.
Walking Into a Divine Invitation
Just a few steps beyond the church main entry, a wooden double door, was another double door made of glass. A few steps past it is where the collection box. It sat right beneath the mosaic image of Our Blessed Virgin Mary, which I thought was so magnificently beautiful!
I had my sunglasses on as I walked to the vestibule, since it was somewhat sunny, but I could still see the altar fairly well. When I took them off and the glass door swung open, Jesus' Easter image to the right of the altar caught my eye. It was huge—life-size.
I knew beforehand that it would still be on display (the church’s Facebook page had indicated that), the way the altar lighting hits it, is like an invitation that is hard to refuse. So beautiful that it brings the Easter scene to life. There was a welcoming ambiance that invited me to stay—it was hard to ignore.
He was depicted stepping out of the tomb; His right hand rested on the opening the stone was rolled away to the left. It's as if He was there with whomever was paying Him a visit.
The ambiance was so powerful that it felt as though it was the Easter from two thousand years ago, where one could sense the victory won—the promise kept, that whoever believes in Him, though they die, shall live.
In my mind, whoever created this Easter painting/wooden cutout did a fantastic job. I wouldn't want it stowed away—it's beautiful and very inviting.
Staring at Jesus' image I asked myself, how does one really step out of the church without even saying a brief "Hi" to Jesus on His feast day? Wouldn't be right, would it?
"And then I recalled the retreat on EWTN that I took part in. The message was very strong, "All times belong to God. That said, it didn't feel right to leave.
Though in my initial response was tinted with a sense of obligation, as I allowed myself to walk past the collection box, that feeling was instantly replaced with awe—as if Jesus was already directing my steps. He knew I could use those moments.
Finding Peace in the Divine Mercy Chaplet
Yes, I could take that invitation given to me and, in return, invite Jesus to find His way into my thoughts and unburden me.
I aimed for the pew right by the altar, the side that faces the Divine Mercy image. With social distancing measures in place, the church was empty. I was grateful I responded to the invitation to spend some one-on-one moments with Jesus, especially on His feast day.
As I sat down to prepare to converse with Him, I texted JC to come inside.
While there, I took the opportunity to open up to Him and show Him where I was wounded—though He already knew everything happening and had happened.
I prayed the Divine Mercy Chaplet and fulfilled the requirements to obtain the graces Jesus promised to those who meet His requests. Towards the end of my visit, I got a little emotional—in fact, my eyes welled up.
Why We Need Intentional Time with Jesus
Looking back as I write this and share it, I hope it made Jesus smile, as I can be stubborn at times.
If you haven’t been to church in a while, consider this your nudge. Come see what ray of light might hit your heart, too. You’ve got a seat waiting—and maybe a story to walk into.
You know you'll appreciate it, because deep inside, you know you needed it. It's always good to open up to the Lord. And just imagine the smile on Jesus' face.
Visit Him not just on a Sunday. Yes, He is always with us, but it won't hurt if we intentionally spend time with Him—in moments of prayer, where there are no distractions and free from pretensions, just in His presence.
We go to visit friends and others. Jesus is also a friend, our friend who will remain with us to the very end, even long after others have gone home to the Father.
If you enjoyed this reflection on stillness in an empty church, you might also like my story "Why Divine Reminders Outperform Our Calendar."
Explore how God uses Divine Reminders to capture our attention when our own schedules fall short.
Many Blessings!
A Note from my Heart
I’m Emilie, a seeker of faith who finds God in the quiet pews and the divine surprises of everyday life. I write these reflections to invite you into a slower, more soulful way of seeing the world.
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