Sensible Mystery

“Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever believes has eternal life.
I am the bread of life.”

John 6:47-48

Have you ever came across something and asked yourself “Wait. What?” Perhaps when Jesus said that He was the bread of life, believers and non-believers responded in a similar way, “Wait. What does that mean?” But, can you blame them? Even the disciples were not exactly sure what Jesus meant and stopped following Him. However, if you listen closely to Jesus, He explains what He means, and if you know the Scriptures, you might come to slowly understand what He might be saying. In the past, the people ate bread that left them hungry — physically and spiritually — but that bread that He now brings and gives, Himself, will leave them satisfied. Not only that, but this bread, even in death, will enable them to live. “Wait. What?!”

The Catholic Church in the United States is in the midst of a three-year “Eucharistic Revival” with the intention to stir up in the hearts of the faithful once again what the disciples on the Road to Emmaus felt — a sense of burning, burning with love and joy and excitement. Why? Because Jesus was in their midst. And, Jesus is in our midst today. Jesus said that He is the bread of life, and that this bread is His “flesh for the life of the world.” This bread that is taken, blessed, broken, and given is Jesus Christ Himself. The ineffable mystery and greatest love story ever told that is re-presented at every Mass on the altar, is Jesus Himself. I am the bread of life. Do you believe?

When the priest says those words of consecration and when he calls down the power of the Holy Spirit, the bread and wine becomes the body and blood of Jesus. It becomes the flesh of the life of the world. It becomes the bread of life that gives us eternal life. A mystery that no eye can perceive, but can be felt and experienced by the heart. Only an encounter with the Lord and an openness to His love can enable us to experience this mystery of love. With that being said, it means that one must have a relationship with Jesus in order for them to slowly and gradually come to faith. The truth and fact that the Eucharist is Jesus’s body, blood, soul, and divinity never changes. The bread that is consecrated becomes Jesus — this never changes, even if you do not believe. The real presence is a truth, but sadly many people, even baptized Catholics do not believe this. This does not make the Eucharist any less real. Just because people do not believe in God does not negate the fact that He exists. So, for those who do not believe, the question is not whether the Eucharist is truly Jesus or not; the question one must ask him or herself is “If Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist, why does my heart not burn in His presence?” And then ask Jesus, “Why do I not believe that You are present in the Eucharist?” This will open up a relationship with the Lord. Trust that He will speak to you. Keep asking. Keep speaking. Keep listening. He will come to you. This mystery will one day become the perceptible reality that it is to you if you keep talking with Jesus. With your eyes closed, in the quiet of your heart you will hear Jesus say, “I am the bread of life given for you” and when you open your eyes, you will feel in your heart that burning love that is God. Then, that “Wait. What?” will come not from a place of confusion or doubt, but rather a place of gratitude: “Wait. What? God loves me that much?” Yes, yes, He does. He really does.

Watch this week’s reflection below.

Reflection for the Transfiguration

Encounter on the Mountain

“Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them;
from the cloud came a voice,

‘This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.’
Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone
but Jesus alone with them.”

Mark 9:7-8

First published as “Seeing God” in 2021.

Jesus brought Peter, James, and John up the mountain. We know something is about to happen when we read “up the mountain” for mountains are places where God meets His people. Moses on Mt. Sinai. Elijah on Mt. Horeb. Jesus on Calvary. God comes to meet His people.

Peter, James, and John did not know what was about to happen. They saw Moses and Elijah. They were ecstatic! These were like two big celebrities from the past. Then the Father spoke — “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” They heard God speak. The Father affirms the Son’s identity and then He speaks to Peter, James, and John, telling them to listen to His Son. The term used to describe this event is “theophany.” A manifestation of God that is experienced by humans. The Apostles saw God, heard Him, and felt Him. But what did they do with that experience? Peter wanted to stay on the mountain by making some tents for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. Perhaps it was a good place to be at and the company was amazing, but the truth was as it is now: they cannot stay there.

An experience with God cannot be kept to ourselves. When we have seen God, our lives cannot remain stagnant. The life of a Christian is one of encounters, with God and with man, a series of mountaintops and valleys. We can never be sure how those experiences will turn out to be, sometimes they will be filled with joy and inspiration, and other times they will be filled with sorrow and feelings of emptiness. But there is one thing we can be sure of, and that is that Jesus will always be there. “Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone by Jesus alone with them” and that should be enough. When the going gets tough, and when the world seems dark and lonely, we must always remember that Jesus is with us. When we encounter Jesus in our brothers and sisters and in the sacraments, we will have seen God. And in seeing God, He comes to us and calms all our fears and worries, giving us all the graces we need at that moment to weather through those storms. Our Lord is waiting to encounter you, will you see Him?