Dear Friends,
Today we celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi (the Body of Christ). Today kicks off a year where parishes throughout the United States are devoting more time to the Eucharist to catechize parishioners, deepen our understanding, enkindle devotion and carry the presence of Jesus into the world.
The Eucharist is Jesus. That means there is enough grace in each Eucharist we receive to make us a saint. Then why aren’t we saints? Because we only receive as much grace as we were open or disposed to receive.
There is a famous story told about St. Philip Neri. One day while he was presiding at Mass, a man received Holy Communion and left the church early. The man appeared to have no regard for the presence of Jesus within him and so Philip Neri decided to use this opportunity as a teaching moment. He sent two altar boys with lighted candles to follow the man outside of the church. After a while walking through the streets of Rome, the man turned around to see the altar boys still following him. Confused, the man returned to the church and asked Philip Neri why he sent the altar boys. Saint Philip Neri responded by saying, “We have to pay proper respect to Our Lord, whom you are carrying away with you. Since you neglect Jesus, I sent two acolytes to take your place.” The man was stunned by the response and resolved to be more aware of God’s presence in the future.
I suppose some of us might presume that the presence of Jesus goes away within minutes of receiving Jesus in Communion. What the Church teaches in the Catechism is: The Eucharistic Real Presence of Christ begins at the moment of the consecration and endures as long as the Eucharistic species subsist. Christ is present whole and entire in each of the species and whole and entire in each of their parts.
While the physical presence of Jesus only remains within us for up to 30 minutes, Jesus’ spiritual presence endures. Therefore, we should cultivate an awareness of the presence of Jesus within us all day.
One thing that helps us to be more open to receive the grace of Jesus in the Eucharist is our prayerful response to receiving communion. St. Teresa of Avila taught her sisters, Be with Him willingly; don’t lose so good an occasion for conversing with Jesus as is the hour after having received Communion. (Reflect that this is a most advantageous hour for the soul, during which Jesus is very pleased if you keep Him company. Take great care…not to lose it). This, then, is a good time for our Master to teach us, and for us to listen to Him, kiss His feet because He wanted to teach us, and beg Him not to leave. But after having received the Lord, since you have the Person (of Jesus) Himself present, strive to close the eyes of the body and open those of the soul and look into your own heart. For I tell you, and tell you again, and would like to tell you many times that you should acquire the habit of doing this every time you receive Communion and strive to have such a conscience that you will be allowed to enjoy this blessing frequently. Though He comes disguised, (under the appearance of bread) the disguise does not prevent Him from being recognized in many ways, in conformity with the desire we have to see Him. And you can desire to see Him so much that He will reveal Himself to you entirely.
As the United States Bishop’s website on Eucharist concludes,
By his Real Presence in the Eucharist Christ fulfils his promise to be with us “always, until the end of the age” (Mt 28:20). As St. Thomas Aquinas wrote, “It is the law of friendship that friends should live together…Christ has not left us without his bodily presence in this our pilgrimage, but he joins us to himself in this sacrament in the reality of his body and blood” (Summa Theologiae, III q. 75, a. 1). With this gift of Christ’s presence in our midst, the Church is truly blessed. As Jesus told his disciples, referring to his presence among them, “Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it” (Mt 13:17). In the Eucharist the Church both receives the gift of Jesus Christ and gives grateful thanks to God for such a blessing. This thanksgiving is the only proper response, for through this gift of himself in the celebration of the Eucharist under the appearances of bread and wine Christ gives us the gift of eternal life.
In a certain sense, each of us, following reception of Jesus at Communion, become a tabernacle. When we leave the church building, we are taking Jesus with us into the community. All those who leave the church with us are also tabernacles and it may be fitting for us to genuflect to one another as we leave. Jesus’ spiritual presence endures with us after the physical presence is gone. You have Jesus’ presence with you throughout the day. Rejoice in that and then share Jesus with others!
Peace,
Fr. Damian