Friends, I was not at the National Eucharistic Congress. My husband was! But I was at home with our children, and even with viewing the talks, it is clear something especially graced and precious happened there…and beyond (I was deeply moved from 1000 miles away, and many friends were as well).

In this key moment, I encourage everyone who senses the same, present or not, to take this critical moment to heart and to voice. It is the week, the month, of sharing witness.

There is one question that needs to be answered as you try to find words for the last week. That question is “What has God done here?” Is it NOT “what happened?”

What happened is much easier to answer: you went to Indy, you went to a great talk, you were in a phenomenal closing mass, you loved the music, you saw more nuns than I ever have in my entire life. These are signposts in your witness. But you need to tell people: what has God done here? In your heart, in what you heard and saw?

What I have heard:

• “This week restored my faith in the Church as a messenger of God’s power and hope.”
• “That sacred silence of 50,000 at adoration of the Lord–it literally felt like I was in heaven, there was so much joy.”
• “I was struck down by God’s mercy in the most powerful experience of reconciliation…it was amazing.”
• “God is good. Unbelievably good. It’s like I didn’t know before this week.”
• “I will never forget this week. Ever. This will carry me forward and I pray to heaven.”

Maybe some of your witness isn’t for the whole world…but it is for someone. Your friend who couldn’t be there. Your family member who has drifted from believing in God. The co-worker who has been curious about what you believe.

And maybe you ARE compelled to share on a broader platform. Write it down, send it in an email to family and friends. Use social media for the good. Ask your pastor if you can speak to this after Mass (or before).

If you are not able to answer “What has God done here?,” that is a good indication to take the question to him in prayer. Ask him directly: what have You done here? Will you show me, so I can know you better, and I can tell others?

When God reveals himself to you, to many, this is never just for you. God is for all, and he is giving you his presence as an encouragement to share with others. This extends beyond the unique event of the National Eucharistic Congress. What if we asked “what has God done here?” at a year-end assessment of parish initiatives? What if we asked this on a marriage anniversary? What if we asked this after a VBS week? 

This is our baptismal call to witness to God’s real power and hope in a broken world. I challenge you to answer: What has God done the past few days?

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If you want to learn more, sign up for our AFTER THE CONGRESS: Launching a Year of Mission in Your Parish webinar on August 13! More information and sign up here.

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Featured photo attribution: FathercadsgCC0viaWikimedia Commons