Words They have such great meaning. If I say something like a gentle breeze… 3 words but in your minds you have so much more in remembering an experience or imagining an event. We remember yesterday that Jesus has just used words to describe the Eucharist. There was nothing for the people to do with that. Their experience could not help them their imagination could not help them.
2000 years have taught us quite a bit.. we have billions of words that have been written. My favorite book on the Eucharist is this: The Hidden Manna. There is history, there is philosophy, there is archaeology, there is theology, there are comparisons there are contrasts. It is a brilliant book… But regardless the “saying is hard!”
What we believe and what we trust
I believe in my heart as much as I can that soon flour and water will be turned into the Body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ. But I am human. It looks like a disc of wheat flour and water. But like all of God’s revelation to us we simply trust Him or we don’t.
We are asked to believe in a virgin birth to a God-man who humbled himself so much that God allowed us to
- Present Him,
- circumcise Him,
- learn the carpentry trade.
- that God subjugated himself to two human beings…
- We see God weep,
- take care of and serve others and
- then in a great chorus of thank you… we nail Him to a cross
And then 3 days later another easy to understand event…He rose from the dead. We were not thee 2000 years ago…Everything there is faith.
Trust is where it is at !
A better word is trust…. (https://deacondavestowell.com/a-little-faith-please/)In all of the teachings, the service, the beauty and even perhaps the ugly… We trust God… that not only did it happen… that he also He gave us a gift so great that it is beyond our comprehension.
You are here today at a Saturday Mass. No one is forcing no one is made to come here today. But each and everyone one of you are at varying levels of trust in God… You trust what he said 4000 years ago to Abram, 3000 years ago to David… 2000 years ago to Peter Paul and the others., You trust what He said 500 years ago in the Council of Trent…what he is saying to you now through whatever means, and you trust what he will continue to be saying in the future.
So in reality each time we are here at Mass we think the same words as Peter… We have come to believe and are convinced you are the Holy one of God.
Wisdom from Pheonix
I was listening to a talk given at the Catholic Prayer breakfast a couple weeks ago. The talk was being given by Bishop Olmsted out of the Diocese of Phoenix. He said “Faith in Jesus Christ shields us from 2 cold and deadly sins… arrogant presumption and cynical despair.” Presumption looks too much to ourselves, while despair looks too much towards the world. Note neither focus on Jesus. Trust in the living God keeps our enemy at bay. We can stay focused and not be distracted
Soon I will be kneeling down with all of you as Fr. Sarmiento consecrates the bread and wine and turn it into the Body and blood of Christ. I have gotten into a habit of repeating the same words we heard Thomas say a couple weeks ago, and I trust.
The Hidden Manna
We have been taught by great men and women what is actually happening behind the veil… at times we might get a glimpse or two… but in general we have to trust in God the same way that Peter did
The words that stood out as I flipped through the Hidden Manna this week was
“Throughout the years the Church has consistently refused to mitigate the shock of the words of the Lord at Capernaum.” And I trust they never will.
The Hidden Manna
The saying is hard and it is very difficult, but it is a gift from God so we pray as the child’s father prayed in Mark, Chapter 9” Oh God, I believe.. Help my unbelief !”
The Link to the USCCB Site with today’s readings http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/051119.cfm