A very real presence (Bread for the Journey 2)

 

January 2

Today while turning compost in our little garden I wondered about a reading for the day.  ‘Who are you?’ the people asked in today’s Gospel reading from the Mass. Every time we break the bread of God’s word we are challenged by the question asked again and again ‘Who is Jesus for me?’. In between celebrations of the eucharist we have a unique privilege to revisit the mass in various ways as we might be able to. This might include a time of prayer and petition based on the scripture readings for the mass of the day.  It might also entail a visit to the Blessed Sacrament in a church that is not locked up.  There, we can find refuge in the wings of the Lord’s eucharist presence. In psalm 46:1 we hear this, “God is our refuge and strength,  a very present help in trouble.”  One of the great consolations of our religion is that we can, on occasions, seek a very real refuge in the very real presence of Christ in the Tabernacle.  Not everyone is able to accept this truth. It is difficult to explain.  It is enough to be present and still and murmur the words, “‘I believe; help my unbelief!’” (Mark 9:24).

Keep turning these words over - like compost.