Lord, I Miss You: a Prayer of Desire for Your Eucharistic Presence

O Risen Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Divine Mercy and Your Sacred Heart’s love for me. When You were on the cross, Your love poured out for me. When You rose from the dead, Your love showered over me. You have called me Yours and called me directly by name. In You I am chosen, loved, known, Your precious daughter, and always enough. In this joyful season of Easter, help me to feel Your presence. When I feel lost, point me back to Your light. When I find You, I know I will also be found.

Despite Your constant and loving presence, Jesus, I miss You.

I miss coming to church and seeing my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ; faces I know well and faces I merely recognize. Even if I often attend Mass alone, I am always surrounded by others and You are there with me too. At home, it can be lonely and harder to feel Your presence.

I miss hearing the songs fill the church. I miss hearing the great Alleluia, bringing Glory to You, Lord.

I miss You, oh Lord, seeing You on the cross and filling my vision as I listen to the readings and songs.

I miss walking up the aisle slowly and then receiving You in Holy Communion. I regret any and every time that I ever took that deeply special moment for granted and received You in less than fully humble or loving circumstances. Like You, I thirst for the chance to strongly declare, “Amen” at that moment. For You to become a part of my soul, to change me and make me more like You in all ways.

I never knew what it was like to miss Church in all these ways and I pray that You will transform my entire being to never take You for granted in any way again.

Jesus, I miss You and I await the day we will be reunited in those physical spaces – those four walls that house holiness, community, peace, and fellowship.

I know the red sanctuary lamp continues to burn always, waiting for our return as well. You are always there, and You never leave us. You are the way, the truth, and the life.

For the sake of Your sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy on us and on the whole world.

In your glorious name, Jesus, we pray. Amen.