Finding the Real Presence - Homily First Friday Mass and Adoration

(Readings)

Surveys show that many Catholics do not believe in the Real Presence. I think the truth for many may be that the Real Presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament has not been revealed to them.

Christianity (Catholicism especially) is a religion of revelation. It is all about God revealing himself to those who believe.

We a people of God in Jesus Christ believe that God is revealed to us through Christ. We want to know him. We want to discover Christ revealing himself in our lives. 

But how do we get there or how do we tell others to get there?  A basic map is this: scripture, prayer, and being in the presence of Christ. 

Christians know that Christ's presence in the world is revealed by scripture. 

The first reading taken from Paul’s letter to the Colossians reveals that Christ is the same God as the God revealed to the Jewish people. And, the God revealed to the Jewish people is the same God revealed in Christ Jesus to the Christians.

This scripture reveals the old and new. Christ Jesus made it all - Christ Jesus paid it all.

The presence of Christ is revealed to us in prayer. The responsorial psalms are universal prayer. Today, we pray Come with joy into the presence of the Lord: he made us, we are his people, the sheep of his flock.

Our Shepherd is the light of life; it is a light still present. Our God, Christ Jesus is present and at work in the world.

The Gospel compares old and new and reveals a mystery of faith, the Blessed Sacrament.

Jesus says that his disciples are to eat and drink. In another place, Jesus told us to eat this bread and drink this cup. Eat and drink because the bridegroom is still present. He is present in the bread and wine for it is HIS body and it is HIS blood.

Tell all those that do not believe in the real presence: It is revealed over and over again. The gospels testify it. The epistles emphasize it. Our prayers reinforce it.  

His real presence in the Blessed Sacrament is the truth revealed when we eat his body and drink his blood.  The truth revealed in scripture, prayer, and Christ’s presence taken together.

Friends, Come with joy into the presence of the Lord for he made us, we are his. His will reveal himself to us in the real presence in Blessed Sacrament.