How's that for a great Thread title???
Dispelling Absence with the Real Presence
Corpus Christi Homily
May 29, 2005 – St. Pius X, Westerly
Growing up, I was fascinated by mysterious stories told about the Bermuda Triangle. The Bermuda Triangle is a region of the Atlantic Ocean between Bermuda, Florida and Puerto Rico where numerous ships and airplanes inexplicably vanished over the years. Historically, that area was part of the slave trade route from Africa that began in 1619 and ended in the late 1700s. As the slave traders sailed close to land, they would inspect the condition of their “freight” of enslaved human beings. If any of the slaves were sick, dying or dead, the traders would throw them overboard in this area now known as the Bermuda Triangle in order to collect the insurance money on their lost “cargo”. Thousands of men and women lost their lives in this place of death, evil, and hatred.
In 1977, a priest boarded a ship and headed out to the center of the Bermuda Triangle. There, he set up an altar and offered the Holy Eucharist for the repose of the countless souls who perished on that spot. In this place of death, evil and hatred, this priest made present the source of all Life, Goodness, and Love. And from that moment on, the mysterious phenomenon of the Bermuda Triangle has itself disappeared.
Whether or not you believe in the legend of the Bermuda Triangle, there is no question that hatred and evil cause terrible absence in our lives. That priest was convinced that the only thing that could end the unexplained disappearances in this place of death, evil and hatred was the sacrifice of the Eucharist, making present the Source of Life, Goodness, and Love. Truly, as this priest believed, real absence is dispelled by the Real Presence.
Every day we deal with the pain of real absence in our lives–the absence of meaning, happiness, and fulfillment. Sometimes this absence comes from our own selfishness or weakness, other times this absence comes from things out of our control. Jesus Christ understands the absences we experience whether they are self-inflicted or inflicted by others. He gives us his own Body and Blood, His soul and divinity in order to bring life, goodness, and love into those places in our lives that are lacking. It is through this sacrament that our hearts are transformed like that of Christ. It is through this sacrament that we are empowered to overcome obstacles in our lives. It is through this sacrament that we come to love above all else. Our Gospel today affirms this – “Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me.” We NEED the body and blood of Christ to truly live. We’re not talking about a life of anger, sin or frustration – but a supernatural life of joy, peace, and love.
On this feast of Corpus Christi, we proclaim our belief that Jesus Christ is truly present in the Eucharist. It is his presence in our hearts that dispels all the absences of our lives and drives us to love and forgive one another more each day. We are strengthened by this Eucharist – indeed our hearts are sustained in its ability to love by this Eucharist. Truly, this greatest of gifts is what empowers us to find peace and happiness in our broken world.
Christ is present in the Eucharist, but we must ask if we are open to his presence in our hearts. The Source of all Life, Goodness and Love is offered to us each Mass, but are we open to receiving all these graces that we need for our happiness? Are there areas of our hearts that we do not want transformed – that we feel perfectly comfortable with as they are? Are there burdens of anger or grudges we hold that we do not want to forgive? Our peace and happiness lie in laying our entire lives – opening our hearts fully – to anything that God may ask. He has given us the sacrament of confession to open our hearts more fully to all the gifts he wants to bestow upon us.
In 1977, a priest believed the Real Presence could dispel the real absence of love those men and women felt who died in the Bermuda Triangle. He was right. May that same real presence today dispel all your sorrows and fear and fill you with God’s life, goodness, and love.
Dispelling Absence with the Real Presence
Corpus Christi Homily
May 29, 2005 – St. Pius X, Westerly
Growing up, I was fascinated by mysterious stories told about the Bermuda Triangle. The Bermuda Triangle is a region of the Atlantic Ocean between Bermuda, Florida and Puerto Rico where numerous ships and airplanes inexplicably vanished over the years. Historically, that area was part of the slave trade route from Africa that began in 1619 and ended in the late 1700s. As the slave traders sailed close to land, they would inspect the condition of their “freight” of enslaved human beings. If any of the slaves were sick, dying or dead, the traders would throw them overboard in this area now known as the Bermuda Triangle in order to collect the insurance money on their lost “cargo”. Thousands of men and women lost their lives in this place of death, evil, and hatred.
In 1977, a priest boarded a ship and headed out to the center of the Bermuda Triangle. There, he set up an altar and offered the Holy Eucharist for the repose of the countless souls who perished on that spot. In this place of death, evil and hatred, this priest made present the source of all Life, Goodness, and Love. And from that moment on, the mysterious phenomenon of the Bermuda Triangle has itself disappeared.
Whether or not you believe in the legend of the Bermuda Triangle, there is no question that hatred and evil cause terrible absence in our lives. That priest was convinced that the only thing that could end the unexplained disappearances in this place of death, evil and hatred was the sacrifice of the Eucharist, making present the Source of Life, Goodness, and Love. Truly, as this priest believed, real absence is dispelled by the Real Presence.
Every day we deal with the pain of real absence in our lives–the absence of meaning, happiness, and fulfillment. Sometimes this absence comes from our own selfishness or weakness, other times this absence comes from things out of our control. Jesus Christ understands the absences we experience whether they are self-inflicted or inflicted by others. He gives us his own Body and Blood, His soul and divinity in order to bring life, goodness, and love into those places in our lives that are lacking. It is through this sacrament that our hearts are transformed like that of Christ. It is through this sacrament that we are empowered to overcome obstacles in our lives. It is through this sacrament that we come to love above all else. Our Gospel today affirms this – “Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me.” We NEED the body and blood of Christ to truly live. We’re not talking about a life of anger, sin or frustration – but a supernatural life of joy, peace, and love.
On this feast of Corpus Christi, we proclaim our belief that Jesus Christ is truly present in the Eucharist. It is his presence in our hearts that dispels all the absences of our lives and drives us to love and forgive one another more each day. We are strengthened by this Eucharist – indeed our hearts are sustained in its ability to love by this Eucharist. Truly, this greatest of gifts is what empowers us to find peace and happiness in our broken world.
Christ is present in the Eucharist, but we must ask if we are open to his presence in our hearts. The Source of all Life, Goodness and Love is offered to us each Mass, but are we open to receiving all these graces that we need for our happiness? Are there areas of our hearts that we do not want transformed – that we feel perfectly comfortable with as they are? Are there burdens of anger or grudges we hold that we do not want to forgive? Our peace and happiness lie in laying our entire lives – opening our hearts fully – to anything that God may ask. He has given us the sacrament of confession to open our hearts more fully to all the gifts he wants to bestow upon us.
In 1977, a priest believed the Real Presence could dispel the real absence of love those men and women felt who died in the Bermuda Triangle. He was right. May that same real presence today dispel all your sorrows and fear and fill you with God’s life, goodness, and love.