Ways in which God is Present

 Reflection on Today's Readings, Saturday of 3rd Week of Easter, Year B, April 24th, 2021
Texts: Acts 9:31-42; Ps. 116:12-17; John 6:60-69

The knowledge of Jesus Christ as the Son of God is crucial to Christian faith. The failure to see Jesus Christ as the Son of God will lead to crisis of faith later in life. The people, in today's gospel reading, related with Jesus Christ as a hero, a great prophet, they did not see Him as the Son of God. Their crisis of faith arose from their lack of knowledge of Him as the Son of God; they could not believe His words. To show that the crisis arose from their lack of faith in His Divinity, it is said, "But Jesus,  knowing in himself  that his disciples murmured at it, said to them, 'Do you take offence at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of man ascending where he was before?'" In these words, Jesus affirms His Divinity as the Son of God. The words take us back to the introdction of the gospel: "In the beginning was the Word; the Word was with God and the Word was God. ... The Word became flesh, and he lived among us and we saw his glory, the glory that he has from the Father as the Son of the Father, full of grace and truth" (1:12,14). If we see Him as the Son of God, we will not find it difficult to accept His words. To show that understanding Jesus as the Son of God helps us to accept His words, it is said, "Jesus said to the Twelve, 'Will you also go away?' Simon Peter answered him, 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy  One of God.'”

It is by acknowledging Him as the Son of God that we come to know that the  words He speaks to us are spirit and life. He is life-giving because He is the Son of God; He gives life as God. Hence, He says, "It is the spirit that gives life, the flesh is of no avail; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life." This is to remind us that the words of consecration, which are the words of Jesus Christ, truly turn the bread and wine to true body and blood of Jesus Christ, for His words are spirit and life. Under the appearance of bread and wine there is real presence of Christ in His humanity and divinity. The bread and wine are of no avail; it is the real presence of Christ that gives life. The bread and wine give life because of the real presence of Christ as God.
The real presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist should inspire in us reverence towards the Holy Eucharist. It also calls us to approach the Holy Eucharist in the state of holiness. It reminds us to prepare in approaching the Holy Eucharist as the people of Israel prepared in their meeting with God (Ex. 19:9-15).
Today's first reading reminds us of the presence of God in the Church, the Body of Christ. It is said, "The Church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was built up; and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit it was multiplied." God is present in the Church, giving life to His people. The words of God, which are spirit and life, are present in the Church. Church is the mountain of the Lord mentioned by prophet Isaiah and Micah (Is. 2:3; Mic. 4:2). Prophet Isaiah says, "and many peoples shall come, and say: 'Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.' For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem."
The first reading also shows that God is present in His ministers. This is clear in the story of how Peter healed the sick and raised the dead. Peter also showed in his words that it was Christ who healed Aeneas and gave life to Tabitha. He says, "And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed." Concerning the raising of the dead, it is said, "But Peter put them all outside and knelt down and prayed; then turning to the body he said, 'Tabitha, rise.' And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.” God continues to give life through His ministers.

God our Father, we thank you for always meeting us in the Holy Eucharist, in the Church and in the person of your ministers; grant that we may be open to your presence in the Holy Eucharist, in the Church, and in the person of your minister. Amen.

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke