Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time - August 20, 2006

Homilies Alive

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Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
August 20, 2006

Homily Code: U-44

(To see a Spanish translation of this homily, click here.)

       I wonder how many of us are aware of what percentage of Catholics do not believe in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.  Well, what do you think?  10%.  20%. 50%.  Survey after survey has shown us that more than 67% (that’s 2/3 of us folks) don’t believe that Jesus is really present in the Eucharist.  That number probably doesn’t represent so much a conscious dissent as it does a profound ignorance on the part of Catholic laity.

       To me, this signals an enormous failure in the catechetical programs within our Church.  On a more serious note, it’s also a cause for profound sadness, since it means that many Catholics have lost sight of the most central truth of our faith—that Jesus Christ gives Himself to us in Holy Communion.  He isn’t satisfied just to send us a message or a reminder about Himself.  He actually gives Himself to us in the Eucharist—Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity.

       Can you believe that?!!  What a gift—God literally gives Himself to us—and 67% of us don’t believe it—amazing!

       Well, no matter what some people may tell you, I am here today to tell you that Jesus is here in the Eucharist.  So, how can I, just a simple deacon, make such a bold statement?  Because Jesus said that He is literally and actually present in the Eucharist, that’s why.  St. Cyril tells us, “Do not doubt whether this is true, but rather receive the word of the Savior in faith, for since He is truth, He can’t lie”.

       In today’s gospel, Jesus makes some very bold and provocative statements.  As we’ve heard in recent weeks, Christ is throwing down the gauntlet about His divinity.  People were (and are) going to have to make a decision—yea or nay about what He has to say.  There can be no fence-sitters on this issue.  We either, “eat his flesh and drink His blood” and have eternal life in heaven or we don’t and we spend our eternity separated from Him.  The choice is ours and ours alone—no one else can make it for us.

       To me, it really isn’t much of a decision.  How about you?  When I was going through my conversion process, several liberal Catholics told me that believing in all of the dogmas and doctrines of the Church really wasn’t all that necessary for me to become a Catholic.  They (basically) said, “Just believe what you believe and everything will be OK because Jesus is a God of love and He’ll understand”.  To these people, ‘sincerity’ is the only thing that counts—just be sincere.  Hmm.

       I looked at these people and said, “You mean to tell me that all someone has to do to become a Catholic is just be sincere”?  I also told them (and they knew of my Jewish background) that Adolph Hitler was sincere—he sincerely thought that any Jew or gypsy or any person of color—anyone not of Aryan stock were vermin who needed to be exterminated.  There has to be more than just sincerity to be true follower of Jesus—there has to be.

       I also asked these same people if they believed in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.  A few said ‘yes’ but most of these people said that it really didn’t matter what one believes about the Real Presence.  After all, they said, it’s just a matter of being true to yourself.  In addition, to a person, they didn’t feel that it was a ‘good idea’ to stress the Real Presence in front of non-Catholics.  Ecumenism, you know!

       My response to them was, “If I believed in God’s Real Presence in the Eucharist, I’d crawl down the aisle on hands and knees over broken glass, not only to receive Him but also to tell everyone about it”.  Needless to say, they looked at me like I had just gotten off the turnip truck.

       So, how do you see the Eucharist?  Is it the center of your life?  Do you really believe that Jesus is actually present?  If you truly believe that Jesus is God, you do.  Remember, Jesus cannot lie and He told us that He is really present.  Would you crawl down the aisle over broken glass to receive Him—would you?

       Let me tell you about one of my heroes and his belief in Jesus’ Real Presence in the Eucharist—Abp. Oscar Romero of San Salvador .  In 1977, when he was consecrated archbishop, he was a quiet and traditional priest.  In fact, so much so, that the secular government celebrated his installation by executing several priests and other social activists.  These executions were to be the new archbishop’s epiphany. 

       Abp. Romero now began to see the poor in a much different light and used his position in the Church to try to fight against government-sponsored injustice.  In fact, one of the sayings about the Church in San Salvador during this time was, “the Church is where it should have been—with the people surrounded by wolves”.

       Like Jesus, Abp. Romero earned the hatred and fear of the establishment.  The shadow of the cross now began to cast itself over his life and the life of his ministry.  No amount of govt. pressure could stop him from proclaiming Christ’s Real Presence both in the Eucharist and in the poor.

       On March 24, 1980 , Abp. Romero was celebrating Mass at the Chapel of Divine Providence in San Salvador .  As he elevated the Host and said, “This is my Body, given up for you”, a rifle shot rang out.  It pierced the archbishop’s heart and he died on the altar, a martyr for Christ.  Abp. Romero became the Eucharist that day.  Like Jesus, Abp. Romero poured out his own blood for us.  Like Jesus, he became a martyr for the truth and a prophet of justice—like Jesus.

       If a very ordinary man like Abp. Oscar Romero would gladly die for his faith in Jesus’ Real Presence, what are we doing to live for it?

       As I mentioned earlier, there has been a failure in organized catechesis.  I’m sure that there are a million reasons why but, to me, the main reason is this.  We, as Catholics, have not been as appreciative of the Eucharist as we should be.

       Think back to your First Holy Communion.  Do you remember how awe-filled you were?  As you have grown older, do you still have that same deep reverence for the Eucharist? 

       If not, here’s a thought.  In a few minutes, as you come down the aisle, focus your thoughts on what is about to happen.  You are about to really receive Jesus Christ Himself—the same Christ who died on the cross for our sins and rose again from the dead.  He is the same Jesus who will come again to judge the living and the dead on the Last Day.  Now, if that isn’t ‘food for thought’, I don’t know what is. 

       What joy and peace it should give us to know that an eternity in heaven awaits us, if we’ll truly believe Jesus’ words in today’s gospel.  “Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood will have eternal life, and I will raise him/her up on the Last Day”.  As for me, I believe every word that Jesus said.  Do you?