My middle child loves riddles, as she has a problem-solving mind and likes to think of unique connections. Even at a young age, she bombarded me with guessing games, riddles, brainteasers, and puzzles. When asked to review this book, I said yes immediately because I would enjoy bombarding her for once. My review is on both Amazon and Goodreads. However, my blog isn’t a place for book reviews, but a place where I connect my faith to the books my children and I read. Mainly, because I believe God reveals Himself always even in the secular. This book of riddles was a way for me to spend one-on-one time with my daughter in an activity she enjoys.
I have always spent a lot of time with my children. As they grow, this time together is busy getting things done, going to activities, and living out responsibilities. I started to cherish the occasional free evening where we could bond as a family. These times became few and far between as my children grew and began to have lives outside of the family unit.
COVID regulations canceled almost all of our busy activities or responsibilities outside of the home. All of a sudden, every night was lazy. We had time to connect as a close family on an intimate level instead of a busy family with things to do. I had time to spend with each child in activities or hobbies they enjoy, such as reading riddles in this book. Even though I spend a lot of time with my children, I have learned that getting through a busy day together is different from a relaxed evening enjoying an interest.
I started thinking about how this applies to my relationship with Christ. My life can be busy and chaotic most days. I think of Christ often and offer up my day to Him. I pray for graces to get through the day or ask Him to be near to me as I handle a stressful or difficult situation. I can forget how important it is to step out of the world for quiet time with Jesus without distractions. Where I solely gaze at Him and not worry about anything but being with Him. Mainly, how essential Adoration is to my relationship with Christ.
Catholics believe Jesus Christ is present in the Eucharist, “He is present in a true, real and substantial way, with his Body and his Blood, with his Soul and his Divinity. . . under the Eucharistic species of bread and wine, Christ whole and entire, God and Man” (Compendium, 282).
The true presence of Christ in the Eucharist is biblical and explained in John Chapter 6.
Jn 6:32,51 – Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven; My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. . . . I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is My flesh.”
Many may not understand the need for the Eucharist. Why would Jesus allow His body and blood to be in the form of bread and wine? The answer to this is because we are human, which means we are both spiritual and physical. The way we experience most of life is through the material. Yes, we can encounter Christ through our spiritual aspects, but to be complete, we must also meet Him through the physical (see Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 1380).
We can compare it to having a relationship with a family member via technology (phone or online meetings) versus in person. Given COVID, we all know what it is like to experience someone solely through technology. It doesn’t even compare to experiencing someone in person. We can pray to Jesus every day in our homes, but this does not equate to gazing on Him with our eyes.
2 Cor 18: All of us, gazing with unveiled face on the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, as from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
I encourage all Catholics to pull away from the business of life. To show up to Adoration to solely be with Jesus.
Jesus awaits us in this sacrament of love. Let us not refuse the time to go to meet him in adoration . . .
St. John Paul II, Dominicae cenae, 3.
By coming to adoration, we are handing Him the key to our hearts, allowing the rays of His love and grace to bathe our souls in the light of His Presence, as the rays of the sun bathe our bodies in light. If we can take the time to pull away from the busyness and distractions of life and just sit at His feet, He will lead us.
Manual for Eucharistic Adoration, pg. 33.
What Can My Kids Read? 