real presence in the whole and in every part - 1st week tuesday

Last week we reflected on the consequences of the words of consecration on the bread and wine in the mass, and we said that through the words of consecration the bread and wine become the real body and blood of Christ.  Christ becomes truly present, he is real.  Thus, we kneel during the consecration, thus we give reverence when we receive Holy Communion.  Why?  Because it is really Jesus who is on the altar; it is really Jesus whom we receive in Holy Communion.

Also we said that through the words of consecration the real presence of Jesus becomes a continuous presence.  Jesus is not just truly present while the mass is being celebrated?  Jesus is not just truly present during communion.  No.  The presence of Jesus is continuous, it becomes permanent even.  Thus, we have a tabernacle.  Thus we have a tabernacle lamp which we light up to signify the presence of Jesus in this chapel. 

Amo ini ang ginsiling ko last year during the anniversary of our Holy Hour.  Nga sa kabuhi sang tawo may mga butang, may mga bagay-bagay nga permanente.  Indi puede nga ari subong, tapos buwas wala naman.  Indi puede nga pagtulok ko ara pa, tapos pagbalikid ko wala na.  Indi puede nga kon napisanan sia, ara, pero kon tamaran na sia, wala.  Ok lang na kon ice candy, ukon baligya - kis-a nagakawad-an.  Pero may yara sa kabuhi ta nga permanente, mga bagay-bagay nga dapat naton panindugan.  Indi puede nga pari ako subong, bwas indi na.  Indi puede nga may asawa ako subong, buwas wala na, tapos sa isa ka buwas may ara na man.  Ay ano na?  Ang commitment indi puede kon san-o lang ako mapisanan.  Amo man ina ang presensya ni Jesus sa tabernacle. May nagadu-aw ukon wala, ara sia.  May suga ukon wala, ara sia.  Ginatahod ukon ginabaliwala, ara sia. Ginakilala ukon ginayaguta, ara sia.  Sa luyag ta ukon indi, ara sia.  This is what Jesus is showing us by his continuous presence in our tabernacles.  His presence is a commitment.  His presence is permanent, it is lasting, and it will endure.  Jesus will still be there long after we have abandoned him.  This is to remind us that there are things in our lives that are permanent, that must stand the test of time, that there are things in our lives that we commit ourselves to forever.

Last week I said there are three effects.  Now we have come to the third.  The third is, we believe that Jesus is truly present in the entire bread and in every part of that bread.  We believe that Jesus is truly present in the entire bread and in every part of that bread - yara sia sa bilog nga ostias kag sa tagsa ka bahin sina nga ostias.  If I break the bread into two, Jesus is truly and wholly present in both halves.  If I break it into four parts Jesus is truly and wholly present in these 4 parts.  Why?  Because Christ is present in the entire bread and in every part.  Amo ina kon ngaa magpakalawat ginasalod, agod to wala sing may ma-usik, wala sing tinipik nga madag-dag.  Amo ina kon ngaa ginalimyohan sang pari ang sulodlan sang mga ostias, indi tungod kay mahigko, kundi agod nga ang tinipik indi mausik, sa baylo kan-on, kalawaton niya ini tanan.  Amo ina nga kon mangalawat kamo ilabi na gid sa kamot, kay-uhon man naton.  Ang tuo nga palad sa idalom sang wala nga palad.  Idaho ini sa pari nga nagapangayo.  Dayon mapakilid kag sa atubang sang pari kuhaon sang tuo nga kamot kag ibutang sa baba.  Dayon lantawon kon bala may nabilin nga mga tinipik sa imo wala nga palad.  Kon may ara, ibutang ini sa baba.  Why do we do this?  We do it because we believe that Christ is in the entire bread and in every part of that bread.

Our gospel today speaks of an encounter with Jesus in the synagogue.  The people in the synagogue came face to face with Jesus and were amazed by him.  The sick, the person possessed by the demon also encountered the Lord in a special way through the healing he received.  And the demon also encountered the Lord - and it even managed to speak to Jesus face to face. 

In our own day we continue to encounter the same Jesus.  St. Ambrose, the great preacher of Milan who converted St. Augustine by his powerful preaching, said, "You have shown yourself to me, Christ, face to face. It is in your sacraments that I meet you.”   It is in you sacraments that I meet you.  No we do not meet Jesus the symbol.  We meet him really, truly or as St. Ambrose said, we meet him face to face.  Where?  In the sacraments!  Do you believe this deep in your heart?  Do you believe that every time you go to mass, every time you receive Holy Communion you are meeting Jesus face to face?

PS.  In the mass the priest  join his hands with palms facing each other on his chest.  THis is not the symbol of prayer for the symbol of prayer is the orans positions, hands outstretched.  But the joining of hands palms facing each other is an gesture done by the priests and ministers acknowledging that they are in the presence of a "higher power." They are in the presence of God, that what we are doing is an "encounter with diving, with God."