The Real Presence.
When we prayed the Angelus in Carmel, the Spanish Fathers used the term, “Dwells among us” instead of “Dwelt among us” in the responsory. It betrayed their deep Eucharistic piety, hearkening back to St. Teresa, when in “The Way of Perfection” (I think) she told the nuns that Jesus is as truly present in the Eucharist as he was when on earth amongst the disciples.
This morning, it seemed to me, we have the greater advantage, compared to the disciples before the Resurrection, since we have Jesus with us, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, in all of his glory. We have the Holy Spirit, the Gospel, the teachings of the Church, etc. - in all of it’s fullness. We ‘have a greater than Solomon’ with us, we have Jesus more completely, as it were, than the apostles when they lived with Jesus on earth. That is awesome isn’t it!
Follow Me.
The imitation of Christ is nothing else than the way of perfection, to which all Christians are called. What would it mean to imitate his Eucharistic life?
Who is more humble than Jesus in the Eucharist, given over into the hands of sinful men? Carried around in someone’s purse, until that woman has time to stop at the Nursing Home to distribute Communion. Or otherwise grabbed at, manhandled - you see that at large event Masses. Recently I watched a video where a priest in Brazil danced around the altar, along with youth, twirling with the monstrance, lifting it in the air with the beat of the music. It made me think of Jesus in King Herod’s court.
The poverty of Jesus.
Yet more deeply, this humility of his that causes him to wait, silently, lovingly, for those who profess faith in him, to come to him. A prisoner of love. As Blessed Candida wrote, “O Sacred Host! Who is more naked, poorer than You - You have nothing, You ask for nothing!” Though he waits, ’sits alone and in silence’ - in his silent, loving action in the Holy Eucharist. Such a mystery! This invisible action…“The Father is at work until now, and I am at work as well.”Jn 5:17…this action takes place in the ever present “now”.
In the Eucharist we see Jesus in a state of perfect obedience, perfect patience, as well as dependence upon the priest who celebrates the Mass. In the Blessed Sacrament, we have Jesus who intercedes unceasingly for us before the Father, who waits for souls in silence and love, condemning no one who approaches him. He waits upon us until we understand and repent…he waits patiently, silently, lovingly. Does he trouble himself with all of the sacrileges, indifferences, insults and blasphemies he endures? No - he makes reparation in his constant intercession before the Father - in this his Sacred Heart, burning with love, attracts souls, especially the most wretched, to himself.
Consecration.
It is always Jesus who consecrates, Jesus who makes atonement and reparation - our Communions unite us to him in this - therefore, I think, our acts of consecration and reparation, offered in love, are only efficacious in and through the merits of Jesus Christ - truly present in the Holy Eucharist.
In the Eucharist, it seems to me, we see an aspect of the prophesy of Isaiah fulfilled in this time of mercy:
“Here is my servant whom I have chosen, my loved one in whom I delight…He will not contend or cry out, nor will his voice be heard in the streets. The bruised reed he will not crush; the smoldering wick he will not quench…” - Isaiah 42
“One Word the Father spoke, and this he utters in eternal silence.” John of the Cross said something along those lines, which inspires me to want to listen to the Word in the Holy Eucharist.
