Eucharist ... there are still permanent things

Our catholic faith teaches us that the bread consecrated in the mass becomes the body of Christ. Jesus becomes truly present in the bread that we consecrate, that the bread we receive in Holy Communion is really and truly Jesus. We call this the doctrine of the real presence - Christ is truly present. For as long as we are here on earth this is how real Christ can become for us.
More than this however, our catholic faith also teaches us that this real presence of Jesus in the bread is not just real but also continuing. The presence of Jesus becomes so to say permanent in the bread. The bread which became of the body of Jesus does not turn back to bread after the mass - no, it continues to be the body of Christ.
These are the two catholic doctrines that distinguish us from other Christian groups. We believe in the real presence of Jesus in the bread. And we believe in the continuing presence of Jesus in the bread. His presence is real. His real presence is permanent.
This is what I would like to reflect with you in this anniversary of your weekly holy hour. Jesus’ real presence in the bread is permanent or continuing presence.


In a world prone to believe that everything is passing, in a world prone to believe that everything changes, in a world prone to believe that nothing is permanent, before the Eucharist today we affirm that there are certain things in our lives as Catholics that remain permanent.
First - our baptism and confirmation. Once baptized or confirmed nothing can change that fact. Once God claims you as his own in baptism and confirmation, nothing can change that fact. You are a child of God no matter what. You are a son or daughter of God no matter what you become later. You may commit sin, you may become the most hardened of sinners, but sin cannot take away the fact that you are a son and daughter of God. You may become a prodigal son but you are still a son. You may become unfaithful to God but God will always remain faithful to you. You are still his son. You are still his daughter and nothing can ever change that fact. Regardless of what you do with your life, God will remain faithful because he has made a commitment with you.
Second - the sacrament of marriage. What God has joined together, no man can ever put asunder. This is again one thing that is permanent and continuing in the life of married couples. You may have become unfaithful to one another. You may have made each other’s life miserable. You may end up separated but nothing can change the fact that you have become one in the Lord. We believe in annulment, that is, that the bond of marriage never really existed from the very beginning. We do not believe in divorce, for the bond of marriage can never be untied or broken. You may become unfaithful to each other, but God will remain faithful to what he has done for both of you. Regardless of what you do with your relationship, God will remain faithful and committed to that relationship.
Third - the sacrament of ordination. Once ordained a priest you become a priest forever. A priest may become a sinful priest, but still he remains a priest. A priest may one day become impossible to live with in the parish, but again he is still your priest. A priest may eventually leave the priesthood, but still he is a priest. Frankly there are times in my life that I don’t want anymore to be a priest, there are times when I feel I have made a wrong decision by becoming a priest, but God will never take it back, I know he will never take it back because once he commits himself to me, he will never turn back on his word, he will never regret what he did to me by making me a priest. Regardless of what I do with my priesthood, regardless of how you judge me and look at me, you may not even like me as a priest, but I am still a priest and I cannot simply undo what God has done for me. Why, because God has made a commitment and God will remain faithful to the priest and to the community he sends his priest. Finally, the eucharist before us today. Once the bread is consecrated whether by the holiest priest or by a sinful priest like me, Jesus becomes really and truly present in the bread and nobody can undo that presence. You may put this bread in a gilded vessel or in a plastic container - just the same Jesus is as real as in any other. You may surround it with gilded candelabras or you may put it amidst ungodly and disrespectful people, Jesus is as truly present as with any other company. Jesus may be honored or not, he may be visited or not, it does not matter. He is still truly present. Nothing, not even human praise or disrespect or even outright sacrilege can make God withdraw his real presence. Why, because God has made a commitment and God will remain faithful to his people even if his people are not faithful to him
This permanency then is not about us. The permanency of baptism is not about the baptized, the permanency of marriage is not about the couple, the permanency of the priesthood is not about the priest himself and the permanency of the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist is not about us. It is about God, it is about God’s enduring faithfulness, it is about his fidelity that knows no end, it is about his undying, forgiving and merciful love. When Jesus said, I will remain with you forever until the end of time. Jesus did not qualify his enduring presence. He did not say, I will be with you for as long as things go well with us. It is a commitment he will never back out from. We call that faithful love.
There are things in this world that are permanent, things that do not change. There are things that God does to us that we ourselves can never undo. For God is the same yesterday, today and forever.