Real presence

The story is told about a priest who asked a candidate for adult baptism: “Are you already prepared for baptism?” The man answered: “Yes, Father, we already have the pulutan (appetizers), and we already have contacted a caterer.” The priest said: “I mean, are you prepared in spirit?” To which the man responded:  “Oh yes, we also have beer, whisky, rum, and even brandy.”

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Today is Corpus Christi Sunday, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. In today’s Gospel (Jn. 6:51-58), it is told that the Jews were not prepared to accept Jesus’ message about eating His flesh and drinking His blood as a condition for true life within, and for eternal life. Even now, the idea is repulsive, if not, outrageous. It is a mystery that we cannot fully understand, something we believe and live in faith.

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The main point of the Solemnity of Corpus Christi is Jesus’ desire to be united with us and to continue to live in us. The Holy Eucharist is not symbolic: it is a real presence of the Lord in our midst even now. We proclaim this all-time unity with the Lord when we acclaim: “We remember how you loved us through your death (past), and still we celebrate for you are with us here (present), and we believe that we will see you when you come in your glory Lord (future), yes we remember, we celebrate, we believe!”

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May our devotion to the real presence of the Lord in the Eucharist lead us to real loving in the world. All our prayers and devotions should make us better and more loving persons. Someone who is a “daily communicant,” one who daily partakes of the Lord’s Body and Blood, must become more and more like the Lord in thought, word and deed. Get real, man!

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It has been almost five months since Mama died, but she is still so present to us in so many ways. Seeing her picture, or seeing a butterfly pass by, or being with her in her resting place makes us feel and remember her loving presence. But it is through people that we experience her real presence. Being with family and friends makes her really present especially when we share time, talents and treasures with each other because of her. She is really, truly, joyfully present. Yes, she lives in eternity and she lives on in our midst.

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Real presence through a simple text message? Yes, simple and doable. There is a very sick, bedridden person who asks only a simple prayer or an inspirational message from me every morning, just to feel God’s love and be inspired to live another day in spite of her constant pain. It really doesn’t take nor cost much to make God’s presence felt.

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Real presence through a smile? Sr. Vicencia Pizarro, SSpS, was a simple welcoming nun who had a smile for everyone at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital. She was not a communicator nor did she occupy high positions during her lifetime, but she inspired so many of us by her humility, hard work, real concern, hospitality and, yes, with her sincere, assuring smile.

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Real presence in sufferings? God makes us learn His presence in a qualitatively new way whenever we go through any trial. In fact, He is most present to us at such times a mother would be most present to a child who is sick or hurting. Trials lead us closer to God’s  heart, and make us realize our dependence on Him, and lead us to trust more in Him. Those of us who are sick, or persecuted, or humiliated, or deprived are given the privilege and grace to know God in a deeper way, and to love Him in a more humble and sincere way. It is in the way of the cross when the journey to God’s heart really begins and takes on a new meaning.

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I am inspired by the Quezon City council’s move prohibiting public schools from having school activities that would include swimming and carnival rides. This is in solidarity with poor families who cannot afford such “educational trips.” Just being sensitive and aware of the needs of the poor and the marginalized—better yet if we help them in a concrete way—is in itself being really present to them.

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Guess what? Being really present means being absent at times. Sometimes it is when we are away, when we are incommunicado, when we are not seen, or heard, being in a hospital or being in a monastery or even in jail that we become really present. As the song says: “We say it best when we say nothing at all.”

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Bantay Matanda invites you to a lay forum with the topic, “Proper Care of the Eye” on June 28, 2014, 9 a.m. to 12 noon at Janssen Hall, Christ the King Seminary, E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue, Quezon City. For inquiries please call: 373-2262/998-2548/0917-4167849.

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You are invited to the launching of “Catholic Moral Theology and Social Ethics:  A New Method” on June 23, 2014, 4 p.m. at De La Salle University, Taft Avenue, Manila (921-3984). It is authored by Ma. Christina A. Astorga, past chair of the Theology Department of Ateneo de Manila University-Loyola Schools. She is at present a professor and the chair of the University of Portland Theology Department. The book received The United States College Theology Society 2014 Best Book Award.

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A moment with the Lord:

Lord, help us to be really present to you and to your people as you are really present to us. Amen.