This past weekend, I had the incredible blessing of being able to volunteer at a Steubenville Conference for teens in NYC. Hundreds of young people gathered from all different backgrounds for a weekend to encounter God. Over the course of the weekend, hearts were changed. Over one thousand people went to Confession; some went after years of not going. Words cannot capture the beauty of what went on in hundreds of hearts throughout the weekend. Jesus knocked on the doors to those hearts, and when He found the open doors, He flooded those hearts with His beautiful presence through the Holy Spirit.

Many people, including myself, believe that adoration is the most beautiful part of the weekend. This adoration, where Jesus' presence in the Eucharist is exposed, is special because a priest carries Him in a special receptacle, called a monstrance. Truly, we know that He walks among us, for it is at this sort of adoration where people begin to laugh from joy for what seems like no apparent cause; others fall gently to the ground beyond their control, which is called resting in the Spirit, as the Spirit pours Himself into them and overwhelms them with graces; some may speak in tongues; and others may cry, overwhelmed by emotions. These signs speak of His presence and His work among us. They do not just happen; they come from Him.

I know someone who recently went to a healing mass, in which she was anointed. Some people rested in the Spirit, and she explained how this happened to her. She said, "I felt a 'weak' sensation and tilted back and someone was there to bring me to the floor. I felt fully conscious and like I could stop myself from falling and control it if I wanted to, but I allowed it and went with the Spirit. Once I was lying down, I felt a flurrying feeling all in my body and an unusual weight gently pushing down on me. I let my body move with the weight and rested until I felt it was time to get up." She said that it was a beautiful lesson to her of receptivity, openness, and surrender. It is in that way that we should constantly live. We must let the Holy Spirit take control. We must trust fall into God's arms. We must move according to the movements of the Spirit, not according to our own thoughts or will. Instead of worrying about our own plans, we must turn towards the Spirit with open hands and say, "I receive Your plans; I surrender mine to You." Jesus invites us, "Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (Matt 11:28-29). When we surrender our worries, plans, and everyday actions to Him, we will be set free! As soon as we surrender and trust fall into His arms, whether literally or metaphorically, we will find rest, and once we do that, we must practice that continually so that we may remain at rest in His arms. Until we truly surrender, we will struggle to find the rest that Jesus is offering us and so deeply wants us to have.

Amidst all the wonder of these miracles and consolations of the Holy Spirit, we must always remember that it is never about the awestruck wonder that we may feel, but rather always about the goodness of our God, His care for us, and the glory that we give Him in thanks! Let us praise God for His greatness!