In His Presence

Each year, the gospel text for the second Sunday of Lent is the account of the Transfiguration of Jesus. "His face shone like the sun and his face became as white as light." This unexpected experience overwhelmed Peter, James and John whom Jesus had brought with him onto the mountain to pray. "They fell prostrate and were very much afraid."  As the saying goes, "seeing is believing." Do we not ourselves, especially in those dark times when confidence in faith escapes us, wish for even a little "sign" to help us.  Actually, seeing is believing, but not seeing with the eyes of the flesh, rather, seeing with the eyes of faith. Jesus does want us to see him present with us, and he has planned  a way for that to be available to us always. It is not like that of Peter, James and John, it is like that of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus.  And it happened that, while he was with them at table, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him … Lk. 24:30 Whenever we are in the presence of the Eucharist, we are in the real presence of Jesus. Notice it does not say, they opened their eyes, it says "... their eyes were opened, and they recognized (saw) him." Everyone sees the Eucharist, but not everyone recognizes Jesus. The Eucharist is that wonderful way Jesus gave us to be the instrument that connects us to him present.  “Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?” Lk. 24:32 The grace of recognition is the grace that St. Ignatius calls "consolation." It operates on a level deeper than the eyes, deeper than rational argument, it penetrates to the centre of one's being, to the heart. My spirit encounters the Lord's spirit, sending reverberations raising up through one's whole being. Now I see, now I recognize, now I understand and am convinced. Now my faith is alive and I see - with the eyes of faith. I would suggest that praying before the blessed sacrament adds a special dynamic to our prayer, especially in those uncertain times in our faith journey. Here is some information on St. Ignatius and consultation/desolation.   [... LINK ...]