REFLECTION FOR TODAY
April 21, 2021
By Fr. Andrew Ibegbulem, OSA
“For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.” Jn. 6:40
The bread of life was given by God to communicate divine life, revelation and instruction to His people. Through His word which give life, God revealed Himself as the source and sustainer of life. The manifestation of God as life-giver finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ.
As Christians, do we believe in Jesus? The answer is “Yes.” However, to believe in Jesus is something that must deepen with every passing day. Therefore, if we do have faith in Jesus, we will also admit that we do not have faith enough. In our gospel reference today, Jesus calls us to do two things. First, we must see Him. Second, we must believe. Let’s start with the first.
When Jesus first spoke these words to the crowd, they did see His physical presence. But many of them did not see beyond the surface. They saw His miracles, heard His teaching, but very few saw the deeper reality of Jesus as the Son of the Eternal Father and the Savior of the World.
If we are to believe in Jesus and all that He is, then we must first see Him. One of the best ways to foster this “holy sight” of Jesus is to gaze at Him in the Most Holy Eucharist. When we actively participate at Mass or spend time in adoration and look upon the Most Holy Eucharist, what do we see? Do we see the Eternal Son? Do we see His holy divinity? Do we see our God and the Lord of all?
As we stand or kneel before our Lord, present in the Most Holy Eucharist, it’s easy to become distracted. It’s easy to allow our minds to wander to the many other aspects of our daily lives and to fail to see the eternal Son of God as He is present to us.
Reflect, today, upon the way you look at our Lord. If you want to deepen your faith, your belief, then start with your sight. Start by considering how you look at Jesus, present in the Most Holy Eucharist. If you are blessed to be with Him this day at the Holy Mass or in adoration, examine the way to see Him. Gaze at Him. Make an intentional act of faith in His divine presence. Acknowledge His Godhead, His glory, His holiness and His sacred presence. If you can look beyond the surface and lift the veil that covers His glory, then this holy gift of sight will give way, also, to the gift of profound faith.
My ever-present Lord, I thank You profoundly for the way You come to me in the Most Holy Eucharist. I thank You for Your divine presence and glory. Help me to see beyond the veil of the appearance of bread and wine so that I can see more clearly Your divinity. As I see Your divine presence, dear Lord, help me to profess my belief in You with greater certitude and faith. Jesus, I trust in You.